City of Tampa
The City of Tampa has enacted a Stormwater Management Ordinance in order to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the general public through the administration and regulation of earthwork and drainage and to provide procedures and standards for the imposition of stormwater charges under the constitutional and statutory power of the city. The City of Tampa 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 Tampa 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. Stormwater credits are available for properties that engage in stormwater best management practices. The City of Tampa, 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 Tampa has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they properly maintained and functioning.
Stormwater Management Ordinance
Sec. 21-49. – Operation and maintenance inspection fee.
A fee shall be charged for each regularly scheduled periodic inspection made by an authorized city representative to ensure the proper operation and maintenance of private drainage facilities. The charge for subsequent inspections to verify correction of any operation and maintenance deficiencies shall be the same as for a reinspection.
Sec. 21-82. – Violations—General.
Violations of the provisions of this chapter and/or failure to comply with any of its requirements, including violations of conditions and safeguards established in connection with grants of a variance or special exceptions, shall be considered a public nuisance.
Sec. 21-83. – Same—Construction, operation and maintenance violations.
It is unlawful and hereby declared a public nuisance for any person to construct or add to or operate and maintain any stormwater management facility in a manner which causes and/or allows conditions which, in the opinion of the official, are dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary and/or are a menace to life, health, safety and welfare and/or property.
Sec. 21-84. – Same—Abatement; notice.
Where a condition exists which could constitute, in the opinion of the official, an imminent threat to the life, health, safety, property and/or welfare of the public, the official may abate the condition by the use of city forces or by contract, and, in this case of emergency, verbal notice to the owner, his agent, representative, contractor or the person who committed the violation will be sufficient notice under the law.
Sec. 21-85. – Same—Each day an offense.
Each day that the public nuisance, as stated in this division, continues shall be considered a separate offense.
Non-Residential Stormwater Utility Fees
Non-residential properties (commercial, industrial, governmental, etc.) will be charged based on the impervious area associated with their property. The calculation will consider the total amount of impervious surfaces (building footprint, parking lot, sidewalks and other paved surfaces) divided by the billing unit value of 3,310 and then will be multiplied by the rate of $12.00 annually. In some cases, a reduction to the bill amount will be granted if the property has a privately maintained drainage facility in place. The initial non-residential bills are based on digitization of aerial photographs.
Mitigation Credits
Full Credit
A full credit (100%) is given to parcels when no part ever drains to any City system or right-of-way. This can be either through direct discharge to a receiving water such as the River or Bay, or it can be applied if the parcel discharges to a system maintained by a non-City entity to such receiving water. It can also be applied to those parcels which drain to a retention pond capable of holding the 100 year storm and which has no discharge.
Full Credit Conditions:
- Drain ONLY to River or Bays (No part of the parcel may drain to the street)
- Have a properly maintained 100 year storm retention pond onsite
- Drain to another entity’s system such as FDOT which does not connect to the City system.
- Resident of a subdivision where the City has no maintenance responsibility and which does not ultimately drain to a City system.
Partial Credit
The partial credit (10%) is given to those parcels which have maintained facilities onsite to limit their discharge of runoff by treatment and attenuation.
Partial Credit Conditions:
- Has properly-maintained onsite detention and treatment facility.
City of Tampa Additional Documents
Tampa Stormwater Utility Fee FAQ
