Understanding County’s Remediation Fee Extension Brief EBR-23 January, 2014

Stormwater runoff originates during precipitation some exceptions, are required to pay the SRF. The events when water flows over the ground. fee structure is established independently by each Impervious surfaces, such as streets and rooftops, county/city and differs across the State. increase runoff by preventing water from soaking into the ground. Water running over hard surfaces What does the 2013 Stormwater Remediation Fee can pick up sediment, chemicals, debris, and toxins look like in Baltimore County? which are carried to local waterways. These Residential properties pay a fixed flat fee annually. pollutants prevent waterways from being fishable The fee is nominal compared with other counties and swimmable. because Baltimore County allotted significant In 2012, the State of passed the resources to improving water quality prior to the Watershed Protection and Restoration Program mandate. Residential rates are: (HB- 987) which mandates that counties subject to a • Detached single family: $39 annually certain municipal stormwater permit institute a • Townhome/duplex: $21 annually stormwater remediation fee. The purpose of the fee is to manage carried by stormwater into • Condominium: $32 annually local waterways. Commercial, industrial, and institutional properties The collected fees are placed in a dedicated fund pay the fee based on their area. and used to finance projects that treat polluted You can find an impervious surface area by entering stormwater. Examples include such projects as your 10 digit parcel/tax number at Baltimore stream and pond restoration, cleaning, County’s website: stormwater facility inspection, maintenance and http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/budf upgrades, tree planting, water quality monitoring, in/customerservice/taxpayerservices/stormwaterfe watershed planning, and stormwater educational e.html programming. The Stormwater Remediation Fee (SRF) is similar to fees for other public services such The County offers hardship exemptions and as sewer, drinking water, and highways. credit/incentive programs: A residential hardship exemption will apply to Who is required to pay the Stormwater owner-occupied dwellings which qualify for at least Remediation Fee? one of the following tax exemptions:

The SRF applies to the nine largest counties in • Baltimore County supplement to the Maryland (Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Carroll, Maryland State Homeowners Tax Credit Charles, Frederick, Harford, Howard, Montgomery, (§9-104 of the Tax-Property article of the and Prince George’s) and Baltimore City that are Annotated Code of Maryland); federally required to treat stormwater runoff. Property owners within these jurisdictions, with

For more information on this and other topics visit the University of Maryland Extension website at extension.umd.edu/watershed 1

• The tax credit exemption for a disabled Additional resources veteran or the surviving spouse of a Maryland Department of the Environment disabled veteran (§7-208 of the Tax- Stormwater Fee FAQ: Property article of the Annotated Code of http://www.mde.state.md.us/programs/Marylande Maryland); r/Pages/StormwaterFeeFAQ.aspx • The property tax credit for surviving spouses of fallen law enforcement officers Baltimore County Stormwater Remediation Fee: or rescue workers (§11-2-109 of the http://www.baltimorecountymd.gov/Agencies/budf Baltimore County Code, 2003); and/or in/customerservice/taxpayerservices/stormwaterfe • The property tax credit for disabled law e.html enforcement officers or rescue workers Baltimore County Master Gardeners:

(§11-2-109.1 of the Baltimore County Code, http://extension.umd.edu/baltimore- 2003) county/master-gardeners Baltimore County does not give credit for Bill 987 (HB-987): stormwater remediation practices on residential http://mgaleg.maryland.gov/webmga/frmMain.asp properties. Commercial, industrial, and institutional x?ys=2012rs%2fbillfile%2fhb0987.htm properties may apply for a stormwater fee reduction of no more than 26 percent of the Contact Krisztian Varsa ([email protected], (410) original fee. The fee reduction will be based on 771-1761), University of Maryland Sea Grant approved stormwater management facilities and Extension, Watershed Restoration Specialist for designed runoff improvements. The supporting Baltimore City, Carroll, Harford, and Baltimore documentation must include design plans prepared Counties, to answer your questions about the fee by a qualified professional. To apply for this credit, and what you can do to reduce stormwater runoff contact the Baltimore County Department of on your property. Environmental Protection and Sustainability at (410) Please note: This factsheet is intended to provide an overview of the 887-3733. stormwater remediation fee at the time of publication. For more updates and information please go to: www.baltimorecountymd.gov. What can you do to help address stormwater runoff pollution? Among other practices, residents can install rain barrels, rain gardens, and porous pavers, and practice Bay-wise landscaping to help reduce stormwater runoff. Always remember with stormwater - slow it down and soak it up!

Krisztian Varsa ([email protected]), Jennifer Dindinger ([email protected]), Amanda Rockler Author's Name ([email protected]), Amy E. Scaroni ([email protected]), and Jacqueline Takacs ([email protected])

This publication,This publication, Understanding (full Baltimoredesignation County’s type) Stormwater (publication Remediation number), (EBRis a series-23), is ofa series publications of publications of the ofUniversity the University of Maryland of Maryland Extension Extension and and the WatershedProgram/department Protection and Restoration name. The Program. information The information presented presented has met has UME met peer UME review peer review standards, standards, including including internal internal and and external external technical technical review. For more informationreview. For on morerelated information publications onand related programs, publications visit: http:// andextension.umd.edu/watershed programs, visit: program .url Please. Please visit visithttp://extension.umd.edu/ http://extension.umd.edu/ to find toout find more about Extension programs in Maryland. out more about Extension programs in Maryland. The University of Maryland Extension programs are open to any person and will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, maritalThe status,University genetic of Maryland information, Extension political programs affiliation, are and open gender to any identity person or and expression. will not discriminate against anyone because of race, age, sex, color, sexual orientation, physical or mental disability, religion, ancestry, national origin, marital status, genetic information, political affiliation, and gender identity or expression.

For more information on this and other topics visit the University of Maryland Extension website at extension.umd.edu/watershed 2