Last Updated 04/11/2026
The City of Gainesville has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to comply with the Clean Water Act and to properly plan, construct, operate and maintain its stormwater management system. The City of Gainesville is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Gainesville will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. Stormwater fees will be calculated and collected by the city. Credit on the stormwater fees can be obtained by maintain stormwater retention facilities. The City of Gainesville, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Gainesville has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they properly maintained and functioning.
Stormwater Fees
The current SMU rate is $9.00/ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit). One ERU equals 2,300 square feet of impervious area. This represents the average impervious area for all developed detached single family properties in the City of Gainesville.
Fees are assessed as follows:
All residential properties are charged a fixed monthly rate.
Single Family Detached – 1 ERU
Duplex Units – 1 ERU per dwelling unit
Condominium Units – 1 ERU per dwelling unit
Apartments – 0.6 ERU per dwelling unit
Mobile Homes – 0.6 ERU per dwelling unit
Non-residential properties are assessed according to the amount of impervious area on the property. The number of ERU’s billed is determined by dividing the impervious area by 2,300 square feet.
ARTICLE V. – STORMWATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY
ARTICLE V. – STORMWATER MANAGEMENT UTILITY
Sec. 27-236. – Intent.
Sec. 27-238. – Stormwater management utility—Established.
Sec. 27-240. – Same—Duties and powers.
(1) Preparation of plans for improvements and betterments to the stormwater management system.
(2) Construction of improvements and betterments to the stormwater management system.
(3) Promulgation of regulations for the use of the stormwater management system, including provisions for enforcement of such regulations.
(4) Review and approval of all new development permits within the city for compliance with stormwater management regulations included in present city ordinances or ordinances later adopted.
(5) Performance of routine maintenance and minor improvement to the stormwater management system.
(6) Establishment of charges for the city’s stormwater management system.
(7) Evaluation of water quality concerns for discharges to the stormwater management system.
(8) Performance of all normal utility functions to include construction, operation, and maintenance of the city’s stormwater management system, including, but not limited to, the hiring of staff, the selection of special consultants, the entering into contracts for services and construction of facilities, and the handling of purchase, lease, sale or other rights to property for the stormwater management system.
(9) Issuance of revenue bonds for the purpose of performing those duties as described herein.
Sec. 27-241. – Authority for service charges.
(b) Rates for stormwater management service. There is charged to all owners or occupants of real property in the city, with improvements or uses thereon which contribute stormwater runoff to the city’s stormwater management system, a monthly fee as established by separate ordinance in accordance with the following definitions:
(1) Single-family property service charges. Each single-family property shall be considered one ERU for billing purposes. Monthly service charges for each single-family dwelling unit shall be identical, provided that the ratio of impervious area to total area of the lot does not exceed 50 percent and the total area of the lot exceeds 10,000 square feet. If the ratio of impervious to total area exceeds 50 percent and the total area of the lot exceeds 10,000 square feet, the rates established in subsection (b)(3) shall apply.
(2) Multifamily property service charges. The monthly service charge for all multifamily properties shall be:
Duplex units = One ERU/dwelling unit
Condominium units = One ERU/dwelling unit
Apartment units = 0.6 ERU/dwelling unit
Mobile homes = 0.6 ERU/dwelling unit
Definition of dwelling unit shall be those living areas served by individual electric and/or water meters.
(3) Nonresidential/commercial property service charge. Nonresidential/commercial property service charge shall be:
No. Base ERU’s =
Impervious Area (sq. ft.) + 0.5 (Partial Impervious Area (sq. ft.)) / 2,300 sq. ft.
No. Billable ERU’s = No. Base ERU’s × (1 – Retention Credit Factor)
Monthly Service Charge = (No. Billable ERU’s) × (Rate/ERU)
A minimum value of 1.0 ERU shall be assigned to each nonresidential/commercial property unless such property has earned a 100-percent retention credit, in which case, the property will be assigned a value of 0.0 ERU. The impervious area of each nonresidential/commercial property shall be determined by the city manager or designee.
(4) Application to all developed properties. Service charges shall apply to all developed properties within the city using the city’s stormwater management system, including those properties classified as nonprofit or tax-exempt for ad valorem tax purposes. Service charges shall apply to all government properties, including properties of the city, including the city-owned buildings, parks, and other properties.
(5) Undeveloped property. Stormwater management service charges shall not be charged to undeveloped property that has not been altered from the natural state as defined under section 27-237, “impervious area” and “partial impervious area.” Farmland, gardens, and landscaped areas shall also be exempt except for any roads, parking, or structures associated therewith.
(c) Billing. The fees imposed by this article shall be billed on a monthly basis and may be billed in conjunction with the property owner or property user’s monthly electric bill issued by the city through Gainesville Regional Utilities. Such fees shall be due and payable at the same time and in the same manner and subject to the same penalties as other utility fees. In the event a developed property does not have other city utility service(s), a new account shall be developed and that property shall be billed separately for the stormwater management charges. The city manager or designee may create a new account for stormwater utility billing purposes only for a property owner or a property user that may also have a valid city electric and/or water utility account.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does Gainesville calculate my stormwater fee?
The city bills every developed property using an Equivalent Residential Unit system, with one ERU set at 2,300 square feet of impervious area and a current rate of $9 per ERU per month. Single-family homes, duplexes and condos are billed at a full ERU per dwelling unit, while apartments and mobile homes are billed at 0.6 ERU each. Nonresidential properties are billed based on actual impervious area divided by 2,300 square feet, and the fee typically shows up on the same monthly bill as electric service through Gainesville Regional Utilities.
Can a Gainesville property reduce its stormwater bill?
Yes, through a retention credit factor built directly into the nonresidential billing formula. A property with a fully permitted, well-maintained stormwater retention facility can reduce its billable ERUs significantly, and one demonstrating complete retention can drop to a 0.0 ERU minimum instead of the standard 1.0 ERU floor. That credit depends on the facility continuing to perform and be maintained as designed, so a system that’s fallen into disrepair puts real money on the line, not just a compliance finding.
What responsibilities come with an approved stormwater control plan in Gainesville?
Property owners have to maintain every on-site stormwater control facility and open space area their approved plan requires, and the city won’t issue a construction permit without a plan for managing runoff during the build itself. Under the NPDES program, the city retains authority to inspect any property for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation for any deficiency it finds, regardless of whether the underlying issue was intentional or simple deferred maintenance.
Are any Gainesville properties exempt from the stormwater fee?
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
