Reducing Your Stormwater Fee

Single-family property owners can receive a credit on their stormwater fee by installing and maintaining stormwater treatment practices and for volunteering in hands-on activities. These include:

  • Installing stormwater treatment practices such as trees, rain gardens, and rain barrels that treat runoff and decrease the quantity of stormwater entering the City’s drainage system.
  • Participating in organized volunteer activities like tree planting and trash clean-ups that provide direct water quality benefits and increase awareness. People who volunteer can earn hours toward credit on their stormwater fee. Learn how to register for a Stormwater Participation Event.

To receive the stormwater credit, please complete and submit the Stormwater fee credit application.
For more information download the Single Family Property Guidance Document.

Additionally, there are several different credits and reduction programs available to businesses, churches, non-profits, and industries. These include:

  • Stormwater Treatment Practices
  • Lots with less than 50 square feet of impervious area
  • Small developments and lots of up to 820 square feet of impervious area
  • Holding a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Industrial Stormwater Discharge Permit 
  • Owning and maintaining private storm drains that discharge directly to the Baltimore Harbor
  • Streets in cemeteries that are privately maintained and open to the public

For more information, including a stormwater fee credit application, download the Non-Single Family Property Guidance Document.

Eligible, tax-exempt organizations can apply for a hardship exemption from their Stormwater Remediation Fee by submitting an alternative compliance plan. The plan provides these organizations the flexibility to protect the environment and reduce the burden on the City’s municipal separate storm sewer system by implementing practices to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution.

Faith organizations can also receive a stormwater fee reduction for their places of worship and schools. For more information about this reduction program, the various credits listed above, and a stormwater fee credit application, refer to the Non-Single Family Property Guidance Document.
Additional information about stormwater fee credits can be found in this simple fact sheet and in the Stormwater Fee regulations.

Additional information about stormwater fee credits can be found in this simple fact sheet and in the Stormwater Fee regulations.