Stormwater Utility Fee
In February, Arlington County Manager Mark Schwartz proposed the Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Stormwater Utility rate at $268 per ERU. The County Board will adopt both the Stormwater Utility rate and County budget in April.
About the 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.
Stormwater Utility Fee Structure for Each Property Type
Equivalent Residential Units (ERU) = 2,400 square feet of impervious area (IA)
Single-family Attached
(townhomes and duplexes)
Each property is charged 0.6 equivalent residential units (ERUs).
Single-family Detached
- Tier 1 (less than or equal to 1,600 square feet): 0.6 equivalent residential units (ERUs)
- Tier 2 (greater than 1,600 or less than or equal to 3,600 square feet): 1 equivalent residential units (ERUs)
- Tier 3 (greater than 3,600 or less than or equal to 4,800 square feet): 1.7 equivalent residential units (ERUs)
- Cap (greater than 4,800 square feet): Per equivalent residential unit (ERU), like non-residential
Multi-Family
Flat fee of 0.18 equivalent residential units (ERUs) per dwelling unit
Non-Residential
Charged based on the impervious area of each property, per equivalent residential units (ERUs)
View this information in a graphic.(JPG, 168KB)
What To Expect
A Stormwater Utility is based on the amount of hard surfaces, or impervious area, on a property, which better correlates with stormwater runoff. As a result, it is fairer way to pay for the County’s Stormwater Management Program. The County is making this change now because the rise in severe flooding in recent years requires us to increase investments in our stormwater system.
There are different customer classes for the Stormwater Utility fee depending on the type of property you own. Explore more below.
Single-Family Homeowner
If you live in a single-family home, townhome or duplex, your annual Stormwater Utility fee will be based on the amount of impervious area on your property. The fee will be included on your real estate bill as a separate line item. If you have a mortgage, your mortgage company will pay the fee as part of your escrow. If you are a renter, the fee will be paid by the property manager/owner and may be included in your rent.
Learn more about the different rate tiers for single-family residential homes.
Condominium / Multi-Family Unit Owner
Multi-family residential properties, including condominiums and apartments, will be billed a flat fee of 0.18 ERU per unit. If you own a condo, the fee will be included on your real estate bill as a separate line item. If you rent an apartment or condo, the fee will be paid by the property manager/owner and may be included in your rent.
Commercial Property Owner
Non-residential commercial properties will be charged the Stormwater Utility fee based on the amount of impervious area on each property, per ERU.
Tax-Exempt Organizations
Most places of worship, federal properties, and nonprofit and tax-exempt properties that were exempt from the sanitary district tax will not be exempt from the utility fee. The Stormwater Utility fee will be charged like other services provided by the County (e.g., water, sewer), which are not tax exempt.
More Information
Stormwater Utility Fee Customer Handbook
English | Spanish
Stormwater Utility Feasibility Study
Stormwater Utility Overview Video
English | Spanish
Stormwater Utility Factsheet
English | Spanish | Amharic | Arabic | Mongolian | Bengali