Plantation moves toward new stormwater utility fee based on the amount of impervious area on residential properties

Plantation, Florida – The City of Plantation is preparing to change the way it collects money to operate and improve the stormwater system, with a proposed fee structure that would take the amount of hard surface on a residential property into account.

The proposed Residential Stormwater Tiering System would replace the current approach under which all single-family homes are assigned one Equivalent Residential Unit, or ERU, regardless of the size of their impervious area.

Impervious surfaces include rooftops, driveways, patios and other areas that prevent rainwater from naturally soaking into the ground. Under the proposed system, properties with smaller impervious areas would be assigned fewer ERUs, while homes with larger areas covered by hard surfaces would receive more.

The City Council approved a preliminary annual assessment rate of $108 per ERU on July 29, 2026. If the proposed structure and rate are ultimately approved, annual residential assessments would range from $54 to $270.

The system would divide residential properties into five tiers.

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Tier 1 would apply to homes with 2,500 square feet or less of impervious area and would carry an assessment of 0.5 ERU. Tier 2 would cover properties with between 2,501 and 5,000 square feet and would be assigned 1.0 ERU.

Properties with 5,001 to 7,500 square feet of impervious area would fall into Tier 3 and receive 1.5 ERUs. Tier 4 would include properties with 7,501 to 10,000 square feet and receive 2.0 ERUs. The highest category, Tier 5, would cover properties with more than 10,000 square feet and be assigned 2.5 ERUs.

At the preliminary rate of $108 per ERU, that would mean a yearly assessment of $54 for Tier 1 properties, $108 for Tier 2, $162 for Tier 3, $216 for Tier 4 and $270 for Tier 5.

The city says the proposed structure is intended to create a more equitable way of funding the stormwater system. Rather than charging every single-family home the same amount, the assessment would be connected to the amount of impervious area on each property.

Stormwater infrastructure plays an important role in Plantation, particularly during periods of severe weather and intense rainfall. The city maintains a network designed to move and manage excess water and reduce the potential for flooding in neighborhoods.

The money collected through the stormwater assessment would be dedicated to the system’s operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and improvement. That includes drainage pipes, catch basins, culverts, canals, waterways, outfalls and pump stations, along with other stormwater facilities.

Maintaining existing infrastructure is only part of the city’s stated goal. Plantation also expects to continue investing in improvements that can strengthen its drainage network and help reduce future flood risks.

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The revenue would be placed in the city’s Stormwater Utility Fund, which operates as an enterprise fund. Stormwater revenues are dedicated to stormwater operations and capital investment rather than being used for unrelated city expenses.

The proposed fee has already been discussed by the City Council during two detailed workshops focused on the assessment methodology. The discussions have given council members an opportunity to examine how the new tiered system would work and how residential properties would be classified.

The process is moving toward a final decision, but the preliminary rate is not yet the final assessment.

The City Council has scheduled a final public hearing and vote for September 14, 2026, at 6 p.m. at City Hall. Residents will have an opportunity to participate in the public process before the council makes its final decision.

Property owners are encouraged to learn which stormwater tier applies to their homes and understand how the proposed assessment could affect their annual costs. Residents can also review information provided by the city about the proposed stormwater assessment and billing system.

The proposed change comes as Plantation continues to focus on maintaining infrastructure capable of handling heavy rainfall. By linking residential assessments to impervious area, the city is seeking a system in which properties with smaller hard-surface footprints contribute less, while properties with larger footprints contribute more.

The September hearing will be an important step in determining whether the new stormwater utility fee structure and preliminary assessment rate move forward.
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