Stormwater Fee

Stormwater Fee

On November 7, 2017, voters approved the implementation of a stormwater fee to invest in our future for a sustainable and resilient stormwater system. Per ordinance, the City of Colorado Springs applies a fee to all residential units and developed or improved properties.  The fee will be in effect until July 1, 2038. The revenues collected from these fees are used by the Stormwater Enterprise for planning, construction, operations, and maintenance of stormwater infrastructure, as well as for programs required to comply with the U.S. Clean Water Act.

Phased Stormwater Fee Increase

An increase in stormwater fees has been approved by the City Council Resolution 27-21 to become effective July 1, 2021.  To ease the transition to a sustainable fee, the increase will be implemented in three phases, as shown in the following schedule.

Why Raise the Stormwater Fee?

Federal and state regulations require the City of Colorado Springs address pollution carried by stormwater runoff and deposited into local creeks and streams. The City of Colorado Springs has three main obligations to which we are legally bound: the Pueblo County and Colorado Springs inter-governmental agreement, the federal and state stormwater permit compliance, and the 2021 federal consent decree. The increase to current stormwater fees is necessary to meet current regulations, as well as the new federal consent decree requirements.

How the Revenue from the Fee Will Be Spent

All fees will be used only for the stormwater program:

• stormwater capital needs
• operation and maintenance
• MS4 Permit compliance
• compliance with intergovernmental agreements entered into before June 1, 2016

How the Fee Will Be Collected

Stormwater Fees Billed through Colorado Springs Utilities

Residents with active service through Colorado Springs Utilities will be billed the stormwater fee on their monthly utility bill. The stormwater fee is a monthly charge and is not dependent on usage or occupancy.

Customers who are serviced by Colorado Springs Utilities but who do not live in Colorado Springs will not have to pay the fee. The fee only applies to properties within the geographic city limits of Colorado Springs.

Stormwater Fees Direct Billed

Residents without an active service agreement with Springs Utilities will be billed directly by the City of Colorado Springs through a separate billing agency. 

Related Links

• Stormwater Fee Background Original Ballot Language 2A link
• City Ordinance 17-69 – Amending Article 8 (Stormwater Enterprise) of Chapter 14 (Municipal Enterprises)
• Fee Increase Resolution 27-21
• Current City Code – Stormwater Enterprise – Chapter 14, Article 8

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