Stormwater Utility

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What is a Stormwater Utility?

Like utilities for water and sanitary sewer, a Stormwater Utility (SWU) is a fee for providing stormwater management services. Rate payers are charged a fee based on the stormwater runoff impact their respective properties generate, using impervious surface as the measurement of that impact. A SWU provides a dedicated funding source for existing stormwater management services and new capital projects to reduce sediment and nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorous) pollution into our local waterways, the Potomac River, and Chesapeake Bay.

What is Stormwater Runoff?

Stormwater runoff occurs when rain or snow melt flows across land and impervious surfaces, such as roofs, driveways, parking lots, and streets that don't allow stormwater to soak into the ground, so it flows to other areas. Stormwater runoff may cause drainage problems like flooding and erosion. Stormwater runoff can also pick up and carry pollutants like grease, oil, pet waste, fertilizer, and metals to the City's storm drain system that leads directly to local waterways, such as Accotink Creek and ultimately to the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. The storm drain system does not treat runoff for pollutants. Stormwater pollution and drainage problems have impacts on our environment and wildlife and can damage property.

Click here to view Stormwater Utility (SWU) frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Stormwater Utility Property Lookup Tool

Click here to use the Stormwater Utility Property Lookup Tool

This web application is designed to allow City of Fairfax property owners to view the estimated number of Billing Units assigned to all City parcels eligible for billing under the proposed Stormwater Utility.
The adopted FY23 fee per billing unit of $28.80 can be used to estimate the annual stormwater utility fee for your property.

Stormwater Utility Credit Program

Credits are available for stormwater management facilities that are in good condition, regardless of their age. The program also includes six non-structural activity-based options to earn credit. These opportunities include urban tree canopy expansion, a no fertilizer pledge, Adopt-A-Stream litter and invasive species removal, and a storm drain marking and monitoring program.

The creditable activities and calculations have been developed so that all types of property owners can participate. The purpose of this program is to engage with the public, encourage participation in stormwater management, and improve stormwater characteristics in the city. This program will also help meet minimum control measures required by the city’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.

The SWU credits apply for between one and three years depending on the type of credit you are applying for.

The stormwater utility credit program was developed in conjunction with the utility ordinance and adopted by the City Council on April 12, 2022.

	Click here to view the Stormwater Utility Credit Program Manual
	Click here to submit an online SWU Credit Application form for Structural Practices (i.e. stormwater management facilities)
	Click here to submit an online SWU Credit Application for Non-Structural Practices (i.e. activity based options such as the no fertilizer pledge or adopt-a-stream)

All SWU Credit Applications and questions can be submitted by email at stormwaterutility@fairfaxva.gov or in person by visiting the Public Works Department located at City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street Suite 200 Fairfax, VA 22030).

Stormwater Utility Appeal Process

Any owner of a parcel subject to the stormwater utility fee may request an adjustment to the fee by submitting an appeal application within 30 calendar days after the date the bill is mailed or otherwise issued to the owner. Grounds for adjustment of the fee are limited to the items listed in Ordinance 2021-12 Sec. 102-20.

All SWU appeal applications and questions can be submitted by email at stormwaterutility@fairfaxva.gov or in person by visiting the Public Works Department located at City Hall (10455 Armstrong Street Suite 200 Fairfax, VA 22030).

Clarification of Pervious and Impervious Gravel Surfaces

Public Works has determined that there are varying uses of gravel on properties in the city that justifies differentiating between gravel that may be used for landscaping versus gravel used for walkways, driveways, or other parking or travel way areas.

Public Works seeks to better clarify the issue of which gravel surfaces are considered impervious by further elaborating that gravel features associated with a “travel way,” including driveways, walkways, and parking areas will be considered impervious, while landscaping gravel designed to allow water to infiltrate will be considered pervious for purposes of SWU fee calculation.

Please click this link to view the full memorandum and example photos.

Stormwater Utility Feasibility Project

The City started a Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study in September 2020 to explore this option for funding the stormwater program. The stormwater program is currently funded through a dedication of the real estate tax, equivalent to $0.03 of the City’s real estate tax rate based on a property’s assessed value.

A stormwater utility fee differs because it is calculated based on the amount of impervious surface present on a parcel. Under a stormwater utility, properties with more impervious surfaces, that contribute more stormwater runoff to the storm drainage system, would pay a proportionally higher fee.

Many Virginia communities have transitioned to a stormwater utility to fund their stormwater program, rather than continuing to use a real estate tax set-aside or general fund revenues. Twenty-eight Virginia jurisdictions have created formal stormwater utilities, including the Cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, and Manassas.

Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study Considerations

The following aspects were explored in the feasibility study:

Current program levels of service and documented unmet stormwater program needs
Evaluation of stormwater Capital Improvement Program (CIP) needs
Current funding method and adequacy of that funding moving forward
Evaluation of SWU rate methodologies and potential billing delivery systems
Analysis of customer impacts from different rate structures

Why did the City Develop a Stormwater Utility?

As drainage infrastructure ages and regulatory compliance requirements evolve and expand, costs associated with stormwater management programming continue to increase for water quality enhancement and water quantity management (flood control), including municipal stormwater permit compliance, system operations and maintenance, and capital improvement projects. In addition, the region recently experienced multiple significant rain events that demonstrated a need for additional drainage improvements. The City’s current Storm Fund offers limited flexibility for funding program priorities, flexibility that the City will need to address an ever-growing list of needs and foreseeable capital improvements.

Documents for Download

Stormwater Utility Credit Program

Public Outreach Presentations: **

Other Documents for Download:

**Please note that the presentation and documents are from the Stormwater Utility development process in late-2021 and the timelines are not current. The Stormwater Utility Ordinance has been adopted by City Council and will become effective on July 1, 2022.

Questions?