1. An annual Stormwater Fee on all residential and non-residential property/parcels. Property owners within SEMSWA’s service area are assessed an annual stormwater fee and receive stormwater management services. Fees are based on Impervious Area (IA). See section on calculation of fees for details.
On taxable property, the stormwater fee is billed on the Arapahoe County Tax Statement. It is due according to the same schedule as property tax payments. The fee is listed on the Tax Statement under "SE METRO STRMWTR AUTH”. The stormwater fee is billed for the current year.
Please note that Colorado Revised Statute 29-1-204.2 authorizes drainage agencies to charge stormwater fees for service. The stormwater fee is not a tax.
Non-taxable property, and property within Douglas County, is invoiced for the stormwater fee directly by SEMSWA.
The stormwater fee is based on the amount that each property contributes to stormwater runoff. Aerial photos and Arapahoe County Assessor records are used to determine the Impervious Area (IA) on each parcel. This method provides an equitable assignment of costs because property owners pay fees in proportion to the demand placed on the drainage system by their property’s runoff.
Over time, the stormwater fees collected by SEMSWA will be used equitably across the SEMSWA service area and will be spent in the same areas from which the fees were collected.
The scope of stormwater management services provided by SEMSWA to property owners affects the fee level. SEMSWA sets the fees so that there are sufficient funds to properly manage stormwater and meet federal regulatory requirements and unfunded mandates.
Impervious surfaces in commercial area
Background Information
Stormwater must be managed for the common good as runoff does not follow subdivision or community boundaries. Storm drain systems in areas outside of your neighborhood--places where you shop, work, recreate or travel--help keep you safe. Your quality of life, the value of your property and the health of the environment are related to how well storm drain systems are maintained. Without timely and adequate maintenance of the system and consistent upgrading and construction of new facilities, streets can become flooded and impassable after heavy rainfall.
As an intergovernmental agency, SEMSWA provides economy of scale, greater efficiency, and better levels of service. Current and future needed stormwater projects are estimated to cost $76 million.
Stormwater fees are used to:
Cover the costs of design, construction and maintenance of stormwater facilities
Insure compliance with federal environmental regulations
Insure compliance with regulations regarding new development
Educate the public about stormwater issues
How Stormwater Fees are Calculated
SEMSWA calculates Impervious Area (IA) by using:
Aerial photography of each parcel. Aerial imagery taken in 2008 will be updated annually and used along with County records for new development. The imagery used is accurate to +/- one foot.
Geographical Information System (ArcGIS) information.
Arapahoe County Assessor’s property records: parcel number, owner, site address, mailing address, single family residential or other property class, total parcel area and parcel boundary.
From these files, the IA is identified and measurement of the IA is calculated. Roughly, the IA is the “footprint” of all surfaces on a parcel from which water would run off (roof, walkway, driveway, patio, parking lot, etc.).
The IA measurement is then used according to the fee rates shown below to calculate the fee for a parcel.
To receive a copy of the Stormwater Fee Determination Report (SFDR)-the aerial imagery and IA calculation for your parcel-please call Customer Service at 303-858-8844, or contact us by email through the “Contact Us” page of this website. Please include your street address and parcel/schedule number if available.
Fees for Single-Family Detached Residences
A detached residence is a stand-alone home, and does not include condos or townhomes.
The 2012 stormwater rate structure is as follows:
Impervious Area (Sq. Ft)
2012 Fee
100 - 2,000
$49.40
2,001 - 2,900
$66.22
2,901 - 3,900
$86.16
3,901 - 7,500
$115.58
7,501 - 50,000
$251.12
Fees for Non-Single Family Detached: Commercial / Governmental / Non-Profit / Condo & Townhome Properties
Fees are based on the equation below. Fees range from about $50 per year for small properties to over $10,000 per year for properties with large areas of impervious surface. Condos and townhomes may pay a prorated share of the costs due for the entire condo/townhome complex (including common area impervious surfaces).
% Impervious of Property
2012 Annual Rate / 1,000 Sq. Ft. of Impervious Area
Sample: $26.07 (rate) x 27 (1,000 sq. ft.) = $703.89 / year
Delinquent Stormwater Fees
The County Treasurer does not collect stormwater fees after August 1st. If the property tax bill is not paid in full by that date, the County Treasurer removes the stormwater fee from the tax invoice and informs SEMSWA of parcels on which the fees are outstanding. Even if the tax bill is paid in full after August 1st, the stormwater fee is no longer included in the amount due to the County. SEMSWA collects delinquent fees directly. Collection may include collection fees and liens filed against the property.
Fees for New Development Infrastructure
A System Development Fee, separate from the annual fees on property, is charged to developers to pay for necessary new stormwater infrastructure. Fees paid by owners of existing property will not be used for new development.
Disputing a Fee: Policy and Procedures
The documents linked below explain the SEMSWA policies regarding the grounds and procedures for disputing a stormwater fee. The first document concerns Impervious Area calculations. The second document concerns determination of contiguous parcel status for non-single family residential properties.
Factual Dispute Resolution Process for Incorrect Impervious Area Factual Dispute Resolution Procedure for Consolidation of Contiguous Parcels
