Reducing Your Stormwater Fee
DPW is doing a lot to protect our waterways and the health of our communities. To make sure this work gets done - we collect a small fee on the waterway based on the amount of paved surfaces. But we can't do it alone. Everyone can play a role in keeping communities and waterways healthy. When individuals or organizations help out DPW provides a small thank you in the form of a fee credit for sharing in this work with us.
You can get credits on your stormwater fee by doing things that keep dirty water from rain or snow from going into the storm drains and ending up in our rivers, streams, and the harbor.
Credits for single-family property owners
Single-family property owners can receive a credit on their stormwater fee by:
Volunteering for hands-on activities in the community
Participate in organized volunteer activities like tree planting and trash clean-ups that provide direct water quality benefits and increase community awareness. By volunteering, you can earn hours toward credits on your stormwater fee.
How to register for a Stormwater Participation Event
Installing and maintaining Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)
Best management practices include actions like planting trees, installing rain gardens, and using rain barrels to water gardens so stormwater gets cleaned through natural processes or used before entering the City’s drainage system.
Complete the stormwater fee credit application
To receive the stormwater credit, please complete and submit the Stormwater fee credit application.
For more information. download the Single Family Property Guidance Document
Credits and fee reductions for non-single-family properties
Several different credits and reduction programs are available to businesses, churches, non-profits, and industries located in the City of Baltimore.
Credits or reductions may be available for:
- Installing and maintaining Stormwater Best Management Practices (BMPs)
- Lots with less than 50 square feet of non-absorbent area (Green Space Credit)
- Small developments and lots of up to 820 square feet of non-absorbent area (Small Development Credit)
- Having 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
Faith organizations
Faith organizations can receive a stormwater fee reduction for their places of worship and schools.
For more information about this reduction program, available credits, and a stormwater fee credit application:
Download the Non-Single Family Property Guidance Document
Hardship exemption for tax-exempt organizations
Eligible, tax-exempt organizations can apply for a hardship exemption from their Stormwater Fee by submitting an alternative compliance plan. The plan gives tax-exempt organizations flexibility to protect the environment and reduce the burden on the City’s storm sewer system by implementing practices to reduce stormwater runoff and pollution.
Download and complete the Hardship Exemption and Alternative Compliance Program Plan
More information about stormwater fee credits
The Stormwater Remediation Fee Regulations outline the regulations and terms of Baltimore City's stormwater fee, and include:
The regulations document outlines how the fee is calculated and billed, key definitions, how revenue collected from the fee can be used, and credit descriptions, limitations, and applicability.