City of St. Augustine Beach Stormwater Utility FAQs.
What is a Stormwater Utility?
A Stormwater Utility is a dedicated enterprise fund that can only be used to support stormwater system operation, maintenance and compliance activities. The Stormwater Utility is funded by a fee assessed on improved parcels within the City Limits. The fee is based upon the amount of impervious surface on a parcel.
Why does the City need a Stormwater Utility?
The City is required to conform to the increasingly stringent and unfunded stormwater regulations mandated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) regulations that are subsequently adopted by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection under the under the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Permit.
The NPDES permit program is used to control water pollution by regulating specific sources of stormwater discharge pollutants into waterways. The City must meet the stormwater permitting requirements set forth by these entities. However, it is the City's goal to not only meet these permitting requirements, but to also pursue a more proactive approach to stormwater management that provides current and future residents with a stormwater management program that will protect our drainage infrastructure, improve the efficiency of the overall drainage system, and ultimately enhance the local environment.
Click here to learn more about the City's NPDES Permit program.
What does the City do with this money?
The cost of new City drainage projects, such as those that address flooding, reduce erosion, and improve water quality and resiliency, and any related drainage maintenance, labor, equipment, and administration, may be be funded by the stormwater utility fee once implemented.
Isn't This Just Another Tax?
No. This utility fee is considered a service charge for stormwater improvements and is allowed in accordance with Section 403.0893 of the Florida Statutes.
Although a utility fee is an additional cost to residents, it is not a tax on the value of a particular property. All owners of improved residential or commercial property will contribute to the Utility Fee.
How often will the Stormwater Utility be billed to me?
The Stormwater Utility Fee will be assessed annually as non-ad valorem special assessment on your St. Johns County property tax bill.
What is an impervious area?
An impervious area is defined as the hard surface within a parcel that does not allow stormwater infiltration to occur, and includes:
- Driveways
- Patios
- Paved areas
- Roofs
- Sidewalks
Because the amount of impervious surface is directly related to the quantity and quality of stormwater to be handled by the City's stormwater system, fees are assessed to each property based on this need. Impervious area based rate structures are typical (92% of all stormwater utilities).
Stormwater doesn't leave my property, why should I have to pay?
All City residents receive the benefit of drainage maintenance of the City’s stormwater facilities. The stormwater system on a public road protects the road from becoming inundated with floodwaters and subsequently treats the stormwater before it is discharged to local water bodies. If there were no publicly maintained drainage systems, roads may become impassable during major rain storms and surface waters could quickly become unhealthy and overloaded with pollutants.
Visit our Stormwater Management page for more information on how to reduce stormwater pollution. Click here.
More Information.
Also see our Stormwater Utility Implementation page for the 2024 schedule.
Still have questions?
Please contact the City’s Engineering Department if you have additional questions.
Need additional help?
Have a concern or request regarding City operations? Click here to access the Resident Self Service page.
Have a question regarding stormwater management and the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program? Click here.