Is the stormwater line on your Roswell utility bill catching your eye? You are not alone. Many homeowners wonder what this fee covers, how their property is placed in a tier, and whether there is a way to lower the cost. In this guide, you will learn what the City of Roswell’s stormwater utility funds, how residential tiers work, where to find the fee on your bill, and practical steps to manage runoff and seek credits. Let’s dive in.
What the stormwater fee covers
Roswell operates a dedicated stormwater utility funded by a service fee, not by property taxes alone. The revenue supports drainage system upkeep and improvements across the city. That includes pipes, culverts, and ponds, routine maintenance like street sweeping, and capital projects that prevent erosion and flooding.
The program also helps Roswell meet state and federal water-quality permits. Activities such as monitoring, reporting, and public education are part of that work. The fee creates a stable, recurring budget focused on protecting neighborhoods and local waterways.
How Roswell calculates the fee
Roswell assigns the stormwater fee based on how much runoff a property is likely to generate. The city uses measurable characteristics like impervious area or an Equivalent Residential Unit system to fairly spread costs. Residential properties are grouped into defined tiers.
Each tier corresponds to a specific charge set in Roswell’s official fee schedule. Commercial and institutional properties are usually billed by impervious area or ERUs rather than tiers. Rates and criteria can be updated by the city, so always rely on the current fee schedule.
Residential tiers explained
For most single-family homes, you are placed in a tier that reflects an average level of roof, driveway, and paved surfaces. Homes with larger impervious areas may fall into higher tiers. Routine repairs that do not add new impervious area normally do not change your tier.
If you add a room, expand a driveway, or hardscape more of your yard, your impervious area can increase. The city can re-evaluate your parcel and adjust the tier if needed. You can also request a review if you think your tier is incorrect.
Non-residential properties
Non-residential, multifamily, and institutional sites are typically billed differently. They often pay based on calculated impervious area or the number of ERUs on the property. This post focuses on single-family residential tiers.
Where the fee shows on your bill
The stormwater charge appears as a separate line item on your City of Roswell utility statement. You might see labels such as “Stormwater Service Fee” or “Stormwater Utility.” The line will show the billed amount and may include a code or note tied to your account.
Billing frequency follows the city’s billing cycle. If a credit is approved, it will display as a reduction or separate line on future bills after processing. For questions about placement or billing timing, use the utility billing contact information on your statement.
Credits and how to qualify
Roswell offers stormwater credits that reduce your fee when you install and maintain approved on-site practices. These best management practices, or BMPs, help control runoff where it falls. Credits require an application, documentation, and often a site inspection by city staff.
Credits are usually time-limited and may require a maintenance agreement. Most programs cap the total reduction, so credits will not reduce your bill to zero. Roswell’s credit policy and fee schedule list eligible practices, caps, and renewal requirements.
Common credit-eligible projects
- Rain barrels or a cistern sized and installed to city standards
- Disconnected downspouts that direct water to vegetated areas where allowed
- A rain garden or bioretention area that treats runoff from a defined surface
- Permeable pavers in place of standard hardscape in suitable areas
- Proper maintenance of an approved private stormwater pond or detention feature
- Tree canopy preservation or planting where credited by city policy
How credits are applied
- You must submit the city’s credit application with plans, photos, or product specs as required.
- The city verifies installations and may inspect your site.
- Approved credits show as a reduction on future bills, subject to processing timelines.
- Ongoing maintenance and periodic renewal may be required to keep the credit active.
Property changes and your tier
Your tier can change when you add impervious area. Examples include a new driveway section, a larger patio, or a building addition. If you reduce impervious area or correct mapping errors, your tier may also change after review.
Before you start a project, check city permitting rules and confirm what counts as impervious area. Keep receipts, site plans, and photos. Good documentation makes it easier to request an adjustment later.
Steps to request credits or a review
Follow Roswell’s procedures on the stormwater utility pages and fee schedule. The typical process includes:
- Review the fee schedule, credit policy, and forms to confirm eligibility and documentation.
- Gather parcel information, your latest bill, site plans, and photos of impervious areas and BMPs.
- Complete the official credit application, sign any maintenance agreement, and include required attachments.
- Submit your application through the city’s listed method. Watch for deadlines or seasonal limits.
- Allow for a city inspection and processing time. Approved credits apply to future bills.
- For tier appeals, follow the city’s review and inspection steps and provide evidence such as surveys or measurements.
Keep copies of everything. Maintain logs for cleaning rain barrels, weeding rain gardens, or servicing detention features. You may need these records for renewal or if you sell the property.
Cost-smart ways to cut runoff
You can make progress even with small projects. Choose measures suited to your lot and check for permitting needs before digging.
- Direct downspouts to grass or a rain garden where allowed.
- Install one or two rain barrels to capture roof runoff for landscaping.
- Replace small sections of hardscape with permeable pavers or mulch.
- Expand planting beds and preserve natural soil where possible.
- Add or preserve trees to boost canopy and infiltration.
- Maintain private drainage features so they function as designed.
Not every site is suitable for infiltration practices. Consider soil type, slope, distance from foundations, and any septic system. When in doubt, ask the city for guidance.
Buying or selling in Roswell
If you plan to sell, pull a recent utility bill and note the stormwater line item for your records. Buyers often appreciate clarity on regular monthly or quarterly costs. If you have credit-eligible BMPs on your property, keep documentation handy so the next owner understands how to maintain them and keep any credits active.
If you are buying, review the seller’s recent utility bills and ask about property changes that might affect the tier. If you plan future additions or new hardscape, factor in how those projects could change your stormwater fee. A thoughtful site plan can manage runoff and may support future credit applications.
Final take
Roswell’s stormwater fee funds drainage, water quality, and infrastructure that protect homes and roads citywide. Your property’s fee depends on its assigned residential tier, which reflects expected runoff from impervious areas. You can often reduce runoff at the source and apply for credits if you install and maintain approved practices.
If you want help understanding how the fee might affect your sale or purchase, or if you need a plan to prepare your home for market, reach out. Get a clear picture of your next steps and your home’s potential value with Unknown Company. Get your free home valuation.
FAQs
How much is the Roswell stormwater fee for my home?
- The amount depends on your assigned residential tier. Check your current City of Roswell utility bill or the latest fee schedule for the exact charge.
Where do I see the stormwater fee on my bill?
- Look for a separate line such as “Stormwater Service Fee” on your Roswell utility statement. Contact utility billing if you need help finding it.
Can I lower my Roswell stormwater fee with a rain garden?
- Possibly. You must apply for a stormwater credit and pass city verification. Approved credits reduce future bills, subject to caps and maintenance.
Will repairing my driveway change my tier?
- Routine repairs usually do not change your tier because they do not add new impervious area. Expansions or new hardscape may lead to a tier change.
How do I appeal my residential tier in Roswell?
- Follow the city’s appeals process on the stormwater utility pages. Be ready to provide evidence like site plans, photos, or a survey showing impervious area.
If my tier was wrong, can I get a refund?
- Roswell has procedures to correct billing errors. Any retroactive adjustments follow the city’s policy once the correction is confirmed.
