Create a stormwater utility that uses variable fees to incentivize stormwater infiltration, minimize the volume of and pollutants in runoff, and educate property owners and renters on the importance of managing stormwater runoff.

Submitted by admin on

Create a stormwater utility that uses variable fees to incentivize stormwater infiltration, minimize the volume of and pollutants in runoff, and educate property owners and renters on the importance of managing stormwater runoff.

Best Practice of this action
Rating Guideline
1 star Create a legal stormwater utility with different fees (e.g., fees based on parcel size, income level, and on land use).
2 star Achieve 1-star rating and offer commercial property owners decreased fees based upon an increased percent pervious surface coverage; provide education to property owners and renters on the importance of managing stormwater runoff in multiple formats and languages.
3 star Achieve 2-star rating AND offer residential owners decreased fees based upon an increased percent pervious surface coverage; use 100% of fees for stormwater program.
Resources
  • See Funding Stormwater Programs (US EPA: 2009) for a summary of stormwater funding mechanisms, including the creation of a stormwater utility district, to support grey and green infrastructure installation and maintenance.  
  • MN cities can learn from the MN Cities Stormwater Coalition, a fee-based service managed by the LMC.  
  • For example, Minneapolis offers a credit system that allows one regulated entity, Murphy Warehouse, to save about $60,000 per year by managing all their stormwater on-site.
Order Number
4
Action Type
Finite