Paying your stormwater bill is an important part of being a responsible homeowner or renter. Stormwater runoff can cause pollution and flooding if not properly managed so stormwater utilities help fund infrastructure projects that mitigate these issues. Here’s a guide to paying your stormwater bill easily and on time.
What is a Stormwater Bill?
A stormwater bill, also called a stormwater utility bill, is a charge that helps pay for stormwater management The fee is based on the amount of impervious surface on your property, such as
- Roof
- Driveway
- Sidewalk
- Patio
These hard surfaces prevent rainwater from being absorbed into the ground. Instead, the water runs off your property and enters the storm drainage system. This runoff carries pollutants that can harm water quality in rivers, lakes, and streams.
To manage all this runoff, stormwater utilities build and maintain infrastructure like:
- Storm drains
- Retention ponds
- Rain gardens
- Permeable pavement
Since impervious surfaces contribute more runoff, properties with more of these surfaces are charged higher stormwater fees. The money goes toward protecting water quality and preventing flooding.
Why Pay the Stormwater Bill?
Some key reasons to pay your stormwater bill:
- It’s required by law in many municipalities
- Failure to pay may result in penalties or liens
- The fee funds important stormwater management projects
- Well-managed stormwater protects the environment
Ignoring the issues around stormwater runoff will cost more in the long run, both financially and environmentally. Paying your fair share helps your community manage runoff responsibly.
How to Pay Your Stormwater Bill
You have several options for paying your stormwater utility bill conveniently:
Pay Online
Most stormwater utilities let you pay your bill online through their website. Benefits include:
- Pay anytime 24/7
- Avoid mailing in or dropping off payment
- Set up autopay or scheduled payments
- Access your account to view bill details
To pay online, go to your stormwater utility’s website and look for the online payment portal. If it’s your first time, you’ll need to create an account. Have your stormwater account number handy.
Pay by Phone
Many stormwater utilities let you pay by calling a toll-free number. To use the automated phone payment system:
- Call the phone number listed on your bill
- Enter your stormwater account number
- Use your credit/debit card or checking account
This is a fast, easy way to pay, often available 24/7. No need to talk to a customer service rep.
Pay by Mail
To pay by mail, write your stormwater account number on your check or money order. Send it in the return envelope if provided. Otherwise, mail to the payment address printed on your bill.
Allow 5-7 days for your mailed payment to reach the stormwater utility office and get applied to your account. Pay early to avoid late fees if paying close to the due date.
Pay in Person
Some stormwater utilities let you drop off payments at their office. Check your bill for locations and hours. Benefits include:
- Pay with cash if needed
- Get a receipt immediately
- Speak with customer service reps
This is a good option if you prefer paying in person or have questions about your bill.
Sign Up for Autopay
For hassle-free payments, enroll in autopay through your utility’s online account portal. This automatically pays your bill from your credit card or bank account each month.
Autopay ensures you never forget a payment. Just monitor your account periodically to update expired cards.
When is the Stormwater Bill Due?
Check your specific bill for the due date each month or quarter. Many stormwater utilities offer a 30-day grace period after billing before applying late fees.
If the due date falls on a weekend or holiday, payments are typically due the next business day. Pay attention to these details to avoid penalties.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay?
Like other utility bills, it’s important to pay your stormwater bill on time every billing cycle. Here’s what can happen if you fail to pay:
- Late fees added to your account
- Service disconnection or liens
- Sent to collections agency
- Can affect credit score
In most cases, penalties can be avoided by simply paying on time. Contact your utility immediately if you expect to miss a payment for any reason. They may offer flexible payment plans or temporary waivers depending on your situation.
Can You Get a Discount on Your Stormwater Bill?
Some stormwater utilities offer discounts like:
- Senior citizen discounts
- Low-income household discounts
- Green infrastructure credits
Senior and low-income discounts provide bill relief based on age or income criteria. Green infrastructure credits apply when you install features like rain barrels, rain gardens, or permeable pavement. These help reduce runoff from your property.
Check with your local utility to see what discounts or credits may be available to help lower your stormwater bill.
Tips for Understanding Your Stormwater Bill
Reviewing your bill closely can help avoid confusion and ensure accurate charges:
- Verify the service address where the fee is being applied
- Check the billing period – is it monthly or quarterly?
- See if there are any credits or adjustments
- Review impervious surface measurements
- Confirm your account balance matches
- Check for changes compared to your last bill
Notify the utility right away if you spot any discrepancies on your stormwater bill.
How to Update Your Contact Information
Keeping your contact info current ensures you get important notices from the stormwater utility. To update:
- Login to your online account portal
- Change details under Your Profile
- Call customer service with new phone number or email
- Submit change of address form if moving
Confirm changes by verifying your next bill shows updated contact details.
Getting Billing Questions Answered
If you need help understanding your stormwater bill, start by checking their website for FAQs. Many utilities also offer the below ways to get billing questions answered:
- Email customer support
- Chat with a representative online
- Call their customer service phone number
- Visit in person during office hours
Have your account number, recent bills, and specific questions ready. This will help them look up your account and address your concerns quickly.
Switching the Account Holder Name
To transfer a stormwater account to a new name, contact the utility. Reasons may include:
- Change of property ownership
- Renter moving out
- Occupant name correction
Provide the service address and documentation like a deed, lease, or bill of sale. This ensures proper billing under the new account holder going forward.
Closing a Stormwater Account
Closing your stormwater account is important when:
- You sell the property
- You move somewhere outside the service area
- The property becomes exempt from fees
To close an account, submit a request with the utility. Provide your forwarding address to send the final bill. This prevents continued billing for a property you no longer own or occupy.
Paying your stormwater bill on time is a shared responsibility for managing water quality and flood protection. Following these tips will help you understand the fee, pay on time, and avoid penalties from your local stormwater utility. Contact them with any billing questions.
Do you have an existing Stormwater Control Measure (SCM) that was designed by an engineer or landscape architect?
If so, you may qualify for the Stormwater Control Measure Fee Credit. Your property must have a specially designed control measure, such as a rain garden, level spreader, sand filter, or engineered pond. To request this credit, you must submit (1) an as-built survey of the control measure and (2) the credit application form with supporting calculations prepared and sealed by an engineer or landscape architect.
Fees Effective July 1, 2023
Effective monthly fees shown below are based on a billing cycle of 30 days. The fee may change slightly if a particular billing cycle has more or fewer than 30 days. Please note some accounts are invoiced semiannually.
Explanation of Terms
- Detached Single-Family Residential: fee applies to one individual, detached, single-family home on a parcel.
- All Others: fee applies to commercial buildings, attached single-family homes such as duplexes, triplexes and apartments, and multiple single-family structures on one parcel.
- Impervious Area: Hard surfaces that do not allow rainwater to absorb into the ground. Examples include concrete driveways and rooftops.
- Tier: detached single-family homes are in one of four billing tiers based on the property’s total amount of impervious surface.
| Detached-Single Family Residential Tier |
Total Monthly Fee |
| Tier 1: <2,000 square feet of impervious surface | $8.78 |
| Tier 2: 2,000 to 2,999 square feet of impervious surface | $12.49 |
| Tier 3: 3,000 to 4,999 square feet of impervious surface | $18.00 |
| Tier 4: 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface | $29.59 |
| All Others: per acre of impervious area | $201.74 |
Property owners may qualify for a fee credit by reducing impacts to the storm drainage system. The four questions below will help you quickly assess if your property might qualify. For more details, please read the specific fee credit policies.
How to Pay Your 2023 Stormwater Bill Online
FAQ
What is a stormwater fee in Texas?
How much is stormwater fee in Chicago?
How much is stormwater fee in Corpus Christi?
What is a drainage charge?
How do I pay my stormwater utility bill?
Click the button below to access your stormwater utility bill, view your usage details, check out any credits or incentives applied to your account and make a payment, or view and download instructions for setting up and accessing your account (PDF). Access the Pay Your Bill website. Call 309-233-0075 to pay using your card or by e-check.
How do I pay my Miami-Dade county stormwater Bill?
If you are billed directly by the Miami-Dade County Stormwater Utility, you may pay your bill online . If you are billed the stormwater fee on your Miami-Dade Water and Sewer bill, you can make a payment on the Water and Sewer Department website. If you cannot view PDF files, you can download Acrobat Reader for free from Adobe Systems, Inc.
How often are stormwater bills sent to property owners?
The stormwater system helps to prevent flooding and limits pollutants from flowing into streams and rivers. Stormwater bills are sent to property owners quarterly (4 times per year). Learn More Stormwater Payment Portal
How do I make a utility payment?
Call our 24/7 Automated Payment Hotline 309-233-0075 to make a payment! Make sure you have your account number and customer number handy! No additional fees to use this option! Schedule your utility payment by logging in to the payment portal and click “Schedule Payment” This new feature allows you to set up when you want your payment to be made!