Stormwater Fee Update

Decatur adopted a new stormwater master plan. What's next?

In December 2020, after two years of community engagement, the City Commission adopted a new Storm Water Master Plan (SWMP). The plan is directed toward mitigating flooding, solving existing drainage problems, improving water quality and the quality of life in Decatur. According to the SWMP, $38 million is needed to implement high-priority capital projects by 2040.

The City has made major stormwater infrastructure improvements in downtown Decatur over the past two decades. Infrastructure in most residential neighborhoods is generally more limited, older, and not designed to modern standards. Ponding and flooding are observed in many of Decatur’s neighborhoods during significant storm events.

How will we pay for this?

Funding for stormwater improvements can be raised equitably with an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) fee system for commercial and non-single family properties and a 4-tier fee system for residential properties, based on a property’s impervious area, as follows:

The proposed fee schedule is the SWMP's recommendation to generate the funding needed to complete proposed high-priority projects over the next 20 years. The present fee of $100 per ERU was adopted in 2016 and will not provide the revenues to meet the infrastructure needs of Decatur’s aging stormwater system.

What's my new stormwater fee?

Property owners can use the tool below to determine their proposed stormwater fee. Simply type in your address and select it from the list to view your estimated fee, ERUs, and impervious square footage. Credits are available for a portion of the fees by reducing run-off and saving tree canopy.