Fees

Storm Water Services Fees

 

Overview

The Storm Water Services fee is based on a property’s impervious surface area such as rooftops and concrete driveways. The more impervious surfaces, the more stormwater runoff flows from the property into the storm drainage system. Properties with the least amount of impervious surface area pay the lowest Storm Water Services fee.

Detached Single-Family Residential properties (one individual, detached, single-family home on a parcel) are in one of four billing tiers based on the property’s total amount of impervious surface. 

Each property in the tier is billed the same amount. 

  • Tier 1: <2,000 square feet of impervious surface 

  • Tier 2: 2,000 to 2,999 square feet of impervious surface 

  • Tier 3: 3,000 to 4,999 square feet of impervious surface 

  • Tier 4: 5,000 or more square feet of impervious surface 

All other properties (commercial buildings; attached single-family homes such as duplexes, triplexes and apartments; multiple single-family structures on one parcel) are billed for the actual amount of impervious area on the property. 

Impervious surfaces are identified and measured using aerial photography for each parcel in Mecklenburg County. To view your property's impervious area, go to https://mcmap.org/geoportal/ then type in your address and click on impervious. 

FY 2025 Fees

Fiscal Year 2025

The Storm Water Services fee is made up of three components: 

  1. a fee set by Mecklenburg County to address drainage improvements and surface water quality needs of named creeks and the regulated floodplain;
  2. a fee set by each municipality to address drainage improvements and surface water quality needs of unnamed tributaries, channels, pipes, catch basins and culverts; and 
  3. an administrative bill processing fee. 

Fees Effective July 1, 2024 

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.


City of Charlotte
Detached-Single Family Residential Tier Total Monthly Fee
 Tier 1: <2,000 square feet of impervious surface  $9.19
 Tier 2: 2,000 to 2,999 square feet of impervious surface  $13.09
 Tier 3: 3,000 to 4,999 square feet of impervious surface  $18.91
 Tier 4: 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface  $31.14
 All Others: per acre of impervious area  $212.49

 

City of Charlotte - Detailed Fee Information
Detached-Single Family Residential Tier County Fee + Municipal Fee + Bill Processing Fee Total Monthly Fee Change from FY 2024
 Tier 1: <2,000 square feet of impervious surface  $1.21 + $6.88 + $1.10  $9.19  $0.41
 Tier 2: 2,000 to 2,999 square feet of impervious surface  $1.84 + $10.15 + $1.10  $13.09  $0.60
 Tier 3: 3,000 to 4,999 square feet of impervious surface  $2.81 + $15.00 + $1.10  $18.91  $0.91
 Tier 4: 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface  $5.23 + $24.81 + $1.10  $31.14  $1.55
 All Others: per acre of impervious area  $32.32 + $179.07 + $1.10  $212.49  $10.75

 
Residential customers who are not on municipal water and sewer service (residents who have a private well or septic tank rather than Charlotte Water utilities) are considered "Storm Water Services only" customers and are usually billed for Storm Water Services fees in January and July. 

Fee Credits

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.


Does your property border a neighboring county?

If so, you may qualify for the County Line Fee Credit. Your property line must be the same as the Mecklenburg County line and all stormwater runoff must flow directly into the neighboring county. Property owners who qualify for this credit pay no Storm Water Services fee.

County Line Fee Credit Policy(PDF, 28KB)


Does your property border the water’s edge of the Catawba River, Lake Norman, Lake Wylie, or Mountain Island Lake?

If so, you may qualify for the Catawba River Fee Credit. All stormwater runoff must flow directly into the river or lake without entering a storm drainage system. Property owners who qualify may receive a fee credit up to 96.4%.

Catawba River Fee Credit Policy(PDF, 156KB)


Do you have a pond on your property?

If so, you may qualify for the Pond Fee Credit. Your property must have a pond that captures and holds stormwater runoff, and the pond must meet additional criteria. Property owners who qualify may receive a fee credit up to 48%.

Pond Fee Credit Policy(PDF, 124KB)


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.

Stormwater Control Measure Fee Credit Application(PDF, 295KB)


Questions about fee credits?

City of Charlotte Contact
Rylee Hernandez
Charlotte Storm Water Services
980.287.5624
Rylee.Hernandez@charlottenc.gov

Mecklenburg County and Towns Contact
David Goode, PE, CFM
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.314.3235
David.Goode@mecknc.gov

FAQs

How do I pay my Storm Water Services fee?

Most customers receive a monthly City of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County water services bill that includes the Storm Water Services fee as well as Charlotte Water drinking water and wastewater fees. While different departments and organizations provide these services, the fees and charges are included on one bill to simplify the billing and payment process for customers. You may pay your water services bill online, by phone, or in person at authorized payment locations. Visit the Bill Payment Options page for more information.


What are Storm Water Services fees used for in our community?

  • Repairing public storm drainage infrastructure
  • Reducing flood risks
  • Improving surface waters

How is the Storm Water Services fee determined?

The Storm Water Services fee is based on a property’s impervious surface area such as rooftops and concrete driveways. The more impervious surfaces, the more stormwater runoff flows from the property into the storm drainage system. Properties with the least amount of impervious surface area pay the lowest Storm Water Services fee.


What is counted as impervious surface?

Impervious surfaces are hard surfaces that do not allow rainwater to absorb into the ground. Common examples of impervious surface include rooftops and concrete driveways. Areas covered with grass, trees, gardens, and gravel are not included when measuring impervious surface area for purposes of determining the Storm Water Services fee. However, gravel is considered impervious surface for many stormwater regulations.


How is the amount of impervious area on my parcel determined?

Impervious surfaces are identified and measured using aerial photography for each parcel in Mecklenburg County. Your parcel’s impervious surface area is listed on the front of your City of Charlotte/Mecklenburg County water services bill. To view your property's impervious area, go to https://mcmap.org/geoportal/ then type in your address and click on impervious.

Call 311 (or 704.336.7600) if you have questions about your parcel’s impervious area or would like to request an inspector to validate the square footage.


What are the billing tiers?

Detached Single-Family Residential properties (one individual, detached, single-family home on a parcel) are in one of four billing tiers based on the property’s total amount of impervious surface. Each property in the tier is billed the same amount.

Tier 1:  <2,000 square feet of impervious surface

Tier 2:  2,000 to 2,999 square feet of impervious surface

Tier 3:  3,000 to 4,999 square feet of impervious surface

Tier 4:  5,000 or more square feet of impervious surface

All Other properties (commercial buildings; attached single-family homes such as duplexes, triplexes and apartments; multiple single-family structures on one parcel) are billed for the actual amount of impervious area on the property.