Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Measures Expanded In Alexandria

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Property owners in Alexandria can qualify for a reduction in the stormwater utility fee by completing more kinds of measures.

On Wednesday, City Council approved revisions to the Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program that allow additional opportunities for fee reductions. The stormwater utility fee, introduced in 2018, provided dedicated funding for the city's stormwater management and stormwater infrastructure projects as well as funding for street sweeping and leaf pickup.

City Council has since approved fee increases and shifted more funding for flood mitigation projects due to several significant flooding events in recent years. In 2021, City Council approved the doubling of the fee from $140 per billing unit in two steps to $210 in June 2021 and $280 in November 2021. A 5 percent increase to the fee was approved in the latest budget cycle, equating to $294 per billing unit. The annual fee is split into bills twice a year due with real estate taxes.

Under the Stormwater Utility Fee Credit Program, property owners can reduce the fee by installing and maintaining stormwater management practices and filing an application. City Council's latest approval adds new measures to receive a credit, such as preserving mature trees and dry floodproofing practices. The updates also increases the potential credits, simplify the application process for the credit, and allowing two-year credits for approved applications.

Applications for the next credit cycle will be open from Dec. 1 to Feb. 15.

More details are available in the updated Stormwater Utility Credit Manual and on the stormwater utility fee web page.