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1. What is a stormwater fee? What does this fee cover?

The stormwater utility fee is the annual fee that goes toward the cost of maintaining and upgrading the City's stormwater drainage infrastructure, and operating a comprehensive and proactive stormwater management program that fully complies with EPA mandates.

The fee will be used to cover the follow stormwater-related expenditures: 

• Emergency repair of City-owned stormwater infrastructure
• Maintenance of City-owned stormwater management infrastructure
• Construction site inspection for erosion control
• Stormwater management master planning 
• Stormwater system mapping
• Public education and outreach
• Drainage capital improvement plan
• Flood control improvements

2. Why do I pay a stormwater fee?

The EPA issued new stormwater permits that require communities to address water pollution caused by stormwater runoff. In addition to meeting the City's current stormwater needs, the Stormwater Utility Fund, adopted in 2010, provides the City with necessary resources to fully address unfunded federal and state regulatory requirements. 

Previously the City dealt with stormwater management on a reactive, as-needed basis. The age, size, and condition of the City's stormwater infrastructure demands a consistent, proactive approach. To do that, the City must join all other major cities and counties in South Carolina in adopting a stormwater utility fee. Spartanburg County adopted a stormwater property tax charge in 2005, which will now be removed from the property tax bill for City properties. 

The Stormwater Utility Fund covers the cost of our mandated stormwater management program, funds drainage improvement projects that alleviate flooding problems, and protects streams from erosion and sedimentation. 

3. How is the fee calculated?

• Residential property 
  • Properties with 1,640 square feet or less will be billed $30 annually.
  • Properties over 1,640 square feet will be billed $42 annually. 
  • Fees will be assessed on a resident's annual Spartanburg County property tax notice for residential properties. 
• Non-residential property 
  • Fees are based on the amount of impervious area each property contains.
  • Impervious is defined as any surface that does not absorb runoff, such as building roofs, asphalt, or concrete surfaces. 
  • These properties are assessed a rate based on $30 per 2,000 square feet of impervious area.
  • Fees will be assessed on a business's annual Spartanburg County property tax notice listed as City Fees.

4. How do I appeal the amount of my fee? What if I think there is an error in my bill?

A customer must submit an appeal form, and may provide additional information for their property, including a stamped survey or approved (stamped) site plan showing all impervious surfaces in addition to property boundaries. An appeal form can be downloaded from the City's website, or obtained by calling 864-596-3690. City staff will review the appeal (along with all supporting documentation), and respond to the appeal within thirty (30) days.

5. What is stormwater?

Stormwater is a term for what becomes of rain after it falls onto our rooftops, driveways, sidewalks, and other impervious surfaces that prevent the rain from naturally soaking into the ground. Stormwater runoff is a significant public concern, because if it is not properly controlled, it can cause serious damage to our properties and environment. Local governments maintain systems of ditches, pipes, tunnels, culverts, and basins to enable stormwater to reach creeks and streams without damaging homes, businesses, and other infrastructure. 

6. What does impervious mean?

Impervious is a term used to describe a surface that does not absorb runoff. Examples of impervious surfaces include roofs of buildings and asphalt or concrete (such as driveways or parking lots). Governments typically use the amount of impervious surface on each property as the basis for the fee calculations because it is the most accurate, readily available indicator of the impact each property has on the stormwater system. 

7. How does the City know the amount of impervious surfaces on each parcel?

The City employed qualified engineering consultants to compute all impervious surfaces for each non-residential property located in the City limits. The firm utilized Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis of aerial photography, along with other public records, to identify and measure the amount of impervious area for each parcel. 

8. How long does the appeal process take?

Appeals will be reviewed within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the appeal form along with all supporting documents. Customers will be notified by mail of the outcome of the appeal. 

9. What is the City doing to minimize the impact of stormwater?

The City of Spartanburg has a number of programs that specifically target the problems associated with stormwater, including:

• Inspection and Prevention--City staff inspects and monitors construction sites to ensure proper controls are in place to minimize runoff.
• Planning and Engineering--The City Stormwater Manager reviews design and construction plans for t he impact of stormwater.
• Maintenance--The City Stormwater Manager and Public Works crews work together to design and maintain stormwater infrastructure.