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1. What is storm water?

Stormwater is surface water that flows across the land into creeks, rivers, and lakes. The storm water in Sugar Land flows to water supply sources like Oyster Creek and the Brazos River. The purpose of the stormwater program is to reduce the pollutants to the maximum extent practicable.

2. How is stormwater connected to drainage?

Drainage is stormwater that does not soak into the ground. It refers to water that falls as rain and runs off the land, and especially off of pavement or structures placed on the land. The city’s drainage system handles this water, and it consists of pipes, inlets, culverts, street gutters, ditches, channels, creeks, lakes, ponds, dams, tunnels and floodwalls. Drainage can be a problem because of flooding, erosion and impacts on water quality. The Stormwater Compliance Fee pays for programs that prevent, mitigate and/or correct these problems.

The drainage system should not be confused with the sanitary sewage system, which takes away water used in homes, businesses and industries for toilets, sinks, showers, washing machines and various types of business processes. The sanitary sewer system is a different system of pipes and infrastructure that lead to a wastewater treatment plant.

3. What is a Stormwater Compliance Fee?

It is the monthly fee to pay for the cost for compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. This requires communities to reduce stormwater pollution to the maximum extent practicable. The Stormwater Compliance Fee covers the costs of staff, equipment, maintenance of existing infrastructure, regulatory fees, and public education efforts as part of the City of Sugar Land’s Stormwater Management Program.

4. Why is Sugar Land charging a Stormwater Compliance Fee?

The purpose of the fee is to pay for stormwater related activities, which are part of State and Federal environmental protection requirements. Municipalities are required to implement best management practices to reduce stormwater pollution to the maximum extent practicable.

5. Are all properties billed?

Yes. The Stormwater Compliance Fees are billed to all residential and commercial properties located within the city limits with a few specific exemptions.

6. Are there any exemptions from the Stormwater Compliance Fee?

The following groups are exempt from the stormwater fee:

• State property
• County property including Levee Improvement Districts
• Universities
• Schools and School District properties

7. What types of projects will the fee benefit?

The project will identify priorities (public safety, drainage, mobility, infrastructure) identified by our residents through years of feedback, including our Citizen Satisfaction Surveys. 

The current storm water program includes:

• TCEQ MS4 Compliance and Control Measures
• Existing Drainage system Operations and Maintenance
• Storm Inlet Inspection and cleaning
• Mosquito Spraying
• Mosquito trapping and testing
• Drainage ditch flow monitoring equipment and maintenance
• Flood Gauges flood alert system

8. How are Stormwater Compliance Fees calculated?

The Stormwater Compliance Fee considers a property’s impervious area which is the total area covered by materials such as asphalt, concrete, brick, stone and compacted surfaces which reduce infiltration of precipitation. The amount of impervious area on a property directly impacts how much stormwater runs off the property and enters the City’s stormwater and drainage system.

9. What is my Impervious Cover?

Impervious cover is any type of human-made surface that doesn’t absorb rainfall, including:

• Driveways, paved and unpaved
• Parking lots, paved and unpaved
• Patios
• Pools
• Roadways
• Rooftops
• Sidewalks
• Some decks

10. Do you charge renters for Stormwater Compliance?

If you rent a single-family home, you will be charged a Stormwater Compliance Fee. The Stormwater Compliance Fee will show up every month on your Utility Bill.

11. What if I believe my Stormwater Compliance Fee charge is incorrect?

City code provides a process for requesting a review of your fee and for adjusting your fee, if warranted. The process includes an administrative review by city staff. Please call 311 to initiate your request for administrative review.

12. What if my impervious cover changes?

If you make changes to impervious cover on your property, your Stormwater Compliance Fee may change. However, there may be a lag time before changes are reflected in your charge. Changes that may affect your charge include increasing your parking space, building a property addition or adding a deck or shed. Removing impervious cover will reduce your charge.

If you have removed impervious cover, please call 311 to let us know, so we can adjust your charge for you sooner.

13. What are unfunded mandates?

Unfunded mandates pass down standards and regulations from the State and Federal governments but do not come with the necessary appropriations or funding.