Stormwater Ordinance & Fees

Fitch Affirms Clearwater's AAA Stormwater Rating

Ordinance # 5058 was created in 1991 to establish stormwater management as a city utility. All developed property shall be levied to provide for the planning, design, construction, operation, maintenance, regulation, surveying, and inspection of the stormwater management facilities around the city.

The monthly fee for each residential property shall be:

• Single family: 1 ERU
• Duplex Units: 1 ERU
• Condominium Units: 1 ERU
• Apartments 1 ERU
• Mobile Homes 1 ERU

Non-residential shall be charged on the basis of the impervious area of the property in accordance with the following formula:

Total amount of impervious area (Sq. Feet) divided by 1830 (Sq. Feet).

A minimum value of 1.0 ERU shall be assigned to each non-residential property. ERUs are rounded to the nearest tenth (0.1) of a unit.

ERU: An ERU, or equivalent residential unit, shall mean the statistical average impervious area for residential parcels within the city. The numerical value of one ERU shall be 1830 square feet of impervious area

Impervious Area: This means that a part of any parcel of land that has been modified in a manner which results in the reduction of the land's natural ability to absorb and hold rainfall, including but not limiting any area which has been paved, graveled or compacted, or covered with a structure. The term excludes uncovered areas such as lawns, landscape areas, gardens, farming areas or stormwater pond areas.

How the Stormwater Utility Fee is Assessed

Developed properties within the city that receive a utility bill are billed a flat, monthly stormwater utility fee for each equivalent residential unit (ERU) of impervious area. Impervious area is considered to be the footprint of buildings and pavement which does not allow rain water to penetrate the earth and which therefore contributes to stormwater runoff.

When the city began its stormwater utility program in the early 1990's the city Engineering Department determined that the typical single family home lot in the City of Clearwater contained 1,830 square feet of impervious area. (1830 square feet = 1 ERU). Fees for nonresidential properties are charged on the basis of the actual number of ERUs of impervious area contained within the property footprint, as determined by the City Engineering Department. Undeveloped properties are not charged the stormwater utility fee. Please see "Chapter XXIV. PUBLIC WORKS - FEES, RATES AND CHARGES", Article (3)(e) in "APPENDIX A - SCHEDULE OF FEES, RATES AND CHARGES" of City of Clearwater Code of Ordinances, for current Stormwater Management Utility Rates.

Stormwater Drainage Criteria

This manual is a guide to assist Engineers in the design of stormwater systems in the city of Clearwater. In general, these standards are a combination of requirements set by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, and requirements set by the city of Clearwater's Engineering Department. This manual does not propose to itemize the requirements of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, but to highlight and detail the requirements of the city of Clearwater. Where design standards of applicable regulatory agencies vary, the more restrictive or higher standard will apply. The designer is required to be familiar with the current design requirements of the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The appropriate Southwest Florida Water Management District storm water permit and other applicable regulatory agency permits will be required prior to any final construction permit approval by the city of Clearwater.

The designers attention is called to the city of Clearwater requirement that all development and redevelopment will require provisions for stormwater management. In particular, redevelopment will be required to provide stormwater management facilities in accordance with the regulations herein.

For the purpose of administering these stormwater management regulations, redevelopment is defined as the alteration of buildings, parking, or other landform features of a property, which necessitates the Community Development Code review process. Redevelopment of property for which no stormwater management facilities exists will be required to provide such facilities in accordance with the methodology contained herein, notwithstanding that the circumstances of the redevelopment may not result in an increase of stormwater runoff.