To lessen the financial impact of the stormwater monthly rates, City Council  approved a five-year phase-in of the fee for all properties in the Southwest Annexation.  The first year’s fee is 20 percent of the full amount, second year’s is 40% and so on until the full 100% of the fee is reached.

Monthly stormwater rates pay for construction and maintenance of the stormwater system to better protect Fort Collins during storms and floods. All developed properties within the city limits pay stormwater rates. Based on current City Code, stormwater monthly rates are based on:

• Lot Size which includes the square footage of lot area, plus the customer’s share of open space in the development, if applicable.  Note:  Single-family residential or agricultural lots larger than one-half acre may be assessed a reduced fee for any portion of the lot or parcel in excess of one-half acre if the Utilities' General Manager determines that the fee reduction is warranted by the land use and runoff characteristics of the lot or parcel.
• Base Rate is equal to $0.0041454 per square foot. The base rate is reduced to $0.00103635 for that portion of single family lots in excess of 12,000 square feet. (Note: In the Southwest Annexation the base rate is reduced during the first four years of billing.)
• Rate Factor is based on percentage of impervious area, which means ground that does not absorb water, such as buildings, parking lots and concrete surfaces.

Stormwater charges will vary depending on the land use. Monthly rates will be higher or lower based on the percentage of impervious area (rate factor) and lot size.

Monthly stormwater charges for single family residential lots in the proposed Southwest Annexation are estimated to vary between $13.00 and $21.00 per month. As first noted, these fees are phased in over a five year period following annexation.

 Formula For Estimated Monthly Rates:

Residential Lots (Under 12,000 Sq Ft), Mobile Home Parks, Multi-Family & Commercial
Formula
(Lot Square Footage + Share of Open Space) x $0.0041454 x Rate Factor = Monthly Rate

Example Fee Calculations
Example of Single Family 8,600 square foot lot with no applicable open space:
8,600 x $.0041454 x .4 = $14.26

Example of One Acre (43,560 sq ft) Commercial lot with heavy runoff:
43,560 x $.0041454 x .8 = $144.46

Single Family Lots Over 12,000 square feet:
Formula
[12,000 x $0.0041454 x Rate Factor] plus [(Lot Size – 12,000 ) x ($0.00103635 ) x Rate Factor] = Monthly Rate

Example Fee Calculation
Example of larger than one acre lots with very light runoff:
Note: Prorate lot to 1 acre or 43,560 square feet

[12,000 sq ft x $0.0041454 x .25] + [(43,560 sq ft - 12,000 sq ft) x $0.00103635 x .25] = $20.62

Future Rate Adjustments
No stormwater rate increases are planned at this time.

Additional Questions
Property owners may contact Jean Pakech, Utilities Rate & Fee Specialist, at (970) 221-6375 or , for more detailed information on the fees for their specific property.