The following establishes procedures and guidelines to uniformly apply the S.WU fee to all properties within the City.
The City of Miami Code of Ordinance Chapter 18 Sections 291 to 298, establishes the Stormwater Fees and Fund. According to provisions of F.S. Chapter 166 and the Florida Constitution, the City is authorized to construct, improve and extend the stormwater utility systems and to issue revenue and other debts if needed to finance in whole or in part the cost of such system. The City is also authorized to establish just and equitable rates, fees and charges for the services and facilities provided by the system.
The current City of Miami monthly stormwater utility fee is $3.50 for each the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). An Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) is defined as the statistical average horizontal impervious area of all residences in the City of Miami which has been appraised as residences by the County property appraiser office. The total impervious are of each parcel of land includes all areas covered by structures and impervious amenities such as but not limited to roof tops, patios, porches, driveways and any hard surface.
A stormwater utility fee (SWU) is imposed upon each developed lot and parcel within the City. For purposes of imposing the stormwater utility fee, the lost and parcels within the City are classified into two (2) customer classes: Residential and Non-Residential. The monthly SWU fee equals the calculated ERU times $3.50 (monthly SWU= calculated ERU*$3.50).
• Residential dwelling unit, i.e., single family detached home, condominium unit, apartment or townhouse unit, or mobile home unit shall be billed at a flat fee of 1 ERU per dwelling unit. For example, a single family with 1 dwelling unit shall be billed 1 ERU; a condominium of 4 dwelling units, shall be billed 4 ERU; an apartment complex with 20 dwelling units, shall be billed 20 ERU.
• Non-Residential properties, i.e., enterprise, business establishment, building or other occupancy not considered Residential dwelling shall be computed based on the total impervious area of the property divided by 1,191 and then multiplied by $3.50/monthly. For example, a business of 5,000 square feet of total impervious area, the ERU will be calculated as follows: 5,000/1,191 = 4.19 ERU and it is rounded up to be 4.20 ERU. The ERU fee is rounded up to the nearest tenth. The monthly SWU shall be $14.70.
• Vacant properties that are 100% pervious the ERU is zero.
The stormwater utility fee is generally charged monthly, quarterly or semi-annually depending on the way it is billed. The fee is billed in the following matter:
• Quarterly through a bill from Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department Invoice. This billing method is for properties that have a current Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department account.
• Semi-annually through an invoice by the City of Miami Finance Department. This billing method is for properties that have no Miami Dade Water and Sewer Department account.
Ordinances in effect:
- Ordinance No.11076, dated 7/12/1993 • To be eligible to receive a fee adjustment, other than measurement correction, the privately constructed stormwater system MUST accept stormwater from the public right of way thereby benefiting the City- owned and maintained public stormwater system funded by this utility. City Ordinance 11076 (7/12/1993)
• Compliance with private property on-site stormwater retention and drainage rules and regulations set by the South Florida Building Code and the City of Miami or other regulatory agency IS NOT cause for a stormwater utility fee adjustment. City Ordinance 11076 (7/12/1993)
• The following review criteria shall apply to all adjustments request of the SWU fee: existing special characteristics of the site, amount of impervious area, stormwater frequency and duration criteria currently in use by the department of PW at the time of the adjustment request, approved ponds or exfiltration systems accepting stormwater from the public right of way. City Ordinance 11076 (7/12/1993)
• Adjustments will not be granted for swimming pools, open ditch systems and swales City Ordinance 11076 (7/12/1993)
• Adjustments will not be granted for compliance with on-site stormwater drainage rules and regulations
Ordinance No.10616, dated 7/13/1989
Ordinance No.10395, dated 3/8/1988