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Stormwater Management

Stormwater at Home

Learn about different options to manage stormwater runoff on your property – beautifully.

Reduce Your Risk of Flooding

Did you know? More than 20% of flood claims are from low to moderate-risk areas. Learn how to reduce your flood risk.

Prevent Pollution

Prevent pollution - and keep Arlington's streams and environment clean. How? Only rain down the storm drain!

Risk Assessment and Management Plan

The Risk Assessment and Management Plan (RAMP) reflects the County’s focus on long-term planning, performance and resiliency for the stormwater management program. The RAMP includes updated rainfall tables used to design stormwater systems, updated climate change projections, flood vulnerability maps, and risk assessments for key watersheds.

Stormwater Capacity Improvements

In 2020 and 2022, Arlington County voters approved stormwater bond referenda to help fund watershed-scale projects and local capacity improvements and expansions to mitigate high risk flood areas, as part of a path toward a Flood Resilient Arlington.

Stormwater Requirements in Development

A land disturbance and stormwater management (LDA) permit is required for new development projects that disturb 2500 square feet or more. Permits require erosion and sediment controls during construction. Stormwater facilities are required to manage runoff from new development.

Stormwater Utility Fee

In 2024, the County moved to funding its stormwater management program through a Stormwater Utility fee. The utility fee replaced the sanitary district tax that customers had been paying since 2008.

Environment Projects

Learn more about stormwater and environment projects, including Ballston Wetland, Green Street rain gardens, and flood resiliency projects.

Green Streets

A Green Street rain garden captures and filters pollutants in rain runoff, helping protect local streams, the Potomac River and the Chesapeake Bay

Stream Resilience in Arlington

Learn about County streams and projects to reduce pollution from erosion, protect infrastructure, and improve water quality.

Stormwater Infrastructure

In Arlington, stormwater drains to 10,000 inlets, flows through 373 miles of storm sewers, and exits through 1,000 outfalls to open channels and streams.

Stormwater and Watersheds

A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common body of water such as a stream, river or lake. Excluding water taken in by plants, all the rain that falls on Arlington eventually drains into the Potomac River.

Stormwater Management Facility Inspections

Inspect, maintain, and submit your report for your stormwater management facility (planter box rain garden, permeable pavers, infiltration trench, etc.) Learn more about the inspection and maintenance requirements for your facilities.

MS4 Stormwater Permit

Arlington County meets state and federal regulations to manage stormwater runoff and pollution through its MS4 (Stormwater) Permit.

Stream Monitoring

Volunteer stream monitoring helps collect important environmental data that Arlington uses to track the health of our streams.