STORMWATER SERVICES

Raleigh City Code pt. 6, ch. 4

in effect

Raleigh City Code § 6-4001 FINDINGS.

Sec. 6-4001. - FINDINGS. (a) Stormwater poses a threat to the public health, safety, and welfare because if unmanaged it floods properties, erodes watercourses and channels, and pollutes streams and rivers. (b) By mapping, planning, constructing, operating, cleaning, regulating and maintaining the natural and constructed stormwater management system, the City reduces the adverse effects of stormwater and improves the quality of groundwater, streams, rivers, and lakes in and around the City. (c) Providing a stable source of funding for stormwater services, as hereafter defined, can best be accomplished through stormwater management utility funds. Such a utility will benefit owners and occupants of developed land in the City and other Raleigh citizens. (d) The amount of impervious surface on a property is the single most important factor affecting the peak rate of runoff, the total volume discharged, and pollutant loadings of stormwater that flows from property. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4002 DEFINITIONS.

Sec. 6-4002. - DEFINITIONS. All definitions as used in this chapter, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, shall have the meaning given herein: Customer or consumer means the person or entity to which a bill for stormwater service charges is sent. Developed land means real property that contains impervious surfaces, and includes improved land without structures and land on which improvements are under construction. Dwelling unit means one (1) or more rooms physically arranged to create an housekeeping establishment with separate facilities for cooking, sleeping and toilet for occupancy by one (1) or more persons. Impervious surface means any surface which because of its material composition or compacted nature impedes or prevents natural infiltration of stormwater into the soil. Impervious surfaces include, but are not limited to, roofs, roof extensions, patios, balconies, decks, including wooden slatted decks, athletic courts, swimming pools, excluding the water area of swimming pools, streets, parking areas, driveways, sidewalks, and any concrete, stone, brick, asphalt, or compacted gravel surfaces. Ungraveled natural footpaths, water surfaces of lakes streams and swimming pools and drain fields are not impervious surfaces. Other residential and nonresidential developed land means any individual lot or parcel of developed land that is not single-family developed land. It includes, but is not limited to, land upon which there are residential structures that contain more than one (1) dwelling unit, such as multi-family dwellings (duplexes and greater), manufactured home park, as defined in Part 10, §10-2002, condominiums, apartments, boarding houses, rooming houses, fraternity houses, sorority houses, dormitories, churches; institutional buildings, whether public or private; hospitals, rest homes, public and private schools, colleges, and universities, commercial, office, hotels and motels, and industrial buildings, storage areas, parking lots and land containing improvements under construction or impervious surfaces. Property owner or owner means the owner of a real property as shown on the Wake County tax records. Single-family equivalent unit (SFEU) is the median of impervious surface on a single-family (detached home) developed land in the City as established by City Council resolution. Single-family developed land means an individual lot or parcel of land developed with only one (1) single-family (attached [townhome] or detached) dwelling unit, one (1) manufactured home, or one (1) mobile home, and the ownership interest of the land and of the dwelling unit are united and identical. Single-family developed land shall not include structures used primarily for nonresidential purposes or other residential and nonresidential developed property. Stormwater management service charge is the charge to provide stormwater services to developed property. The charge is based upon the single-family equivalent unit (SFEU) as calculated for that property. Stormwater management system or system means the system of natural and constructed devices for collecting and transporting stormwater. It includes, but is not limited to, structural drainage systems such as open swales and ditches, catch basins, pipes, inlets, storm sewers, drains, culverts, junction boxes, and other stormwater management facilities that affect the quality and quantity of stormwater located within dedicated public street rights-of-way and City of Raleigh permanent drainage easements accepted by the City and all natural stormwater drainage systems. Stormwater management utility funds mean the stormwater management service charges and the interest generated by those charges. Stormwater services means City stormwater management programs designed to protect water quality by controlling the level of pollutants in, and the quantity and flow of, stormwater and City service of structural and natural stormwater and drainage systems of all types. Stormwater services include any cost necessary to assure that all aspects of stormwater quality and quantity are managed in accordance with federal and State laws, regulations and rules, and costs related to the mapping, planning, construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, management and regulation of the stormwater management system and the regulation of impervious surface and stormwater. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03; Ord. No. 2004-571-TC-243, §§1, 2, 2-17-04)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4003 CREATION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT.

Sec. 6-4003. - CREATION OF STORMWATER MANAGEMENT ACCOUNT. All stormwater management service charges and interest generated by such charges, the stormwater management utility funds, shall be placed in a separate City account and shall be used by the City of Raleigh solely for the operational costs, maintenance costs, and management costs, indirect costs, capital improvements, debt principal and debt service, and establishment of a reserve fund for stormwater services. The City may use funds that are not stormwater management utility funds to provide stormwater services. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4004 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SERVICE CHARGES.

Sec. 6-4004. - STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SERVICE CHARGES. (a) All developed land in the City, whether public or private, shall be subject to a stormwater management service charge. Exemptions shall not be allowed based on age, tax exemption, or other status of an individual or organization. Stormwater management service charges may be subject to a credit system as further provided herein (b) Stormwater management service charges on developed land shall be set forth in the City of Raleigh Fee Schedule. These charges will be determined and modified from time to time by the City Council so that the revenues generated by said charges will be used to pay the principal and the interest on the debt incurred for stormwater purposes, and such expenses as are reasonably necessary for providing stormwater services within the City of Raleigh. (c) Computation of stormwater management service charges. For Other residential and nonresidential land, the monthly stormwater management service charges on developed land is calculated by dividing the total impervious surface area of the property divided by one (1) single-family equivalent unit, rounded to the nearest tenth, multiplied by the established monthly single-family equivalent unit rate as fixed by City Council Resolution. For developments with common property containing impervious surfaces, such as townhouse developments, cluster unit developments, or condominiums, each dwelling unit shall be responsible for its equal pro rata share of the total impervious surfaces area of the common areas of the development not served by City of Raleigh water or sewer or both unless other arrangements are made pursuant to §6-4006(e). (d) The following exemptions from stormwater management service charges are allowed: (1) Undeveloped land. (2) Improved public streets, not including internal roads within public facilities which have been conveyed to the North Carolina Department of Transportation or City of Raleigh and which are used by the general public for motor vehicle transportation, and private streets constructed in accordance with the Raleigh City Code and City of Raleigh Streets Sidewalks and Driveway Access Handbook. (3) Railroad tracks. However, railroad stations, maintenance buildings or other developed land shall not be exempted from stormwater management service charges. (4) Developed land with less than four hundred (400) square feet of impervious surface area. (5) Portions of developed land that directly drain outside the City limits. No exemption authorized under subsections (4) and (5) shall be made until a written request to the Chief Engineer of the City documenting the application of the exemption is approved. The Chief Engineer may approve or reject the request in whole or in part. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03; Ord. No. 2004-571-TC-243, §§3, 4, 2-17-04; Ord. No. 2019-949, §4, 6-4-19, eff. 7-1-19)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4005 CREDITS APPLICABLE TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SERVICE CHARGES.

Sec. 6-4005. - CREDITS APPLICABLE TO STORMWATER MANAGEMENT SERVICE CHARGES. (a) The City may provide a system of credits to reduce stormwater management service charges for properties on which stormwater control measures substantially mitigates the peak discharge or runoff pollution flowing from such properties or substantially decreases the City's cost of maintaining the stormwater management system. The Central Engineering Department will develop written policies to implement the credit system. No credit will be authorized until the City Council approves written policies to implement the system of credits; a copy of the approved policies shall be on file with the City Clerk. The City's policies may make credits retroactive to the date stormwater management service charges were initiated. Any bill charges requiring adjustments must be applied through the utility billing system. But no credit will be granted for more than three (3) past years. Nothing shall prevent the City Council from modifying the adopted system of credits, and such modifications may apply to holders of existing credits. (b) Each credit allowed against the stormwater management service charge is conditioned on the continuing operation and functioning of the stormwater control measure as designed; credited stormwater control measures must comply with all applicable laws, ordinances and regulations, and credits may be rescinded for noncompliance with these standards. (c) Each credit for which a customer applies shall be subject to review and approval by the Chief Engineer or his designee. The Chief Engineer may approve or reject any application for a credit in whole or in part. (d) Credits shall only be applied to developed lands containing the credited stormwater control measure. For developments with common property containing credited stormwater control measures such as townhouse developments, cluster unit developments, or condominiums, each dwelling unit shall be eligible for its equal pro rata share of the credit unless other arrangements for billing the stormwater management service charge are made pursuant to §6-4006(e). (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4006 BILLING METHOD, RESPONSIBLE PARTIES.

Sec. 6-4006. - BILLING METHOD, RESPONSIBLE PARTIES. (a) Bills for stormwater service shall be sent at regular periodic intervals. Stormwater management service charges may be billed on a combined utility bill that also contains charges for sewer service or combined sewer and water service and/or solid/waste management service. Stormwater management service charges that are shown on a combined utility bill may be for a different service period than that used for sewer service or combined sewer and water service. (b) Stormwater management service charges for a property that receives sewer service or combined sewer and water service will be sent to the customer receiving such service. However, where multiple water and sewer accounts exist for a single parcel, the bill for stormwater management service charges may for good cause shown at the discretion of the City be sent to the property owner. Additional policies concerning billing will be developed by the City. (c) The property owner is ultimately responsible for payment of the stormwater management service charge for property for which the party billed has not paid the stormwater management service charge. (d) Owners of property may, with the consent of the City, designate each occupant of the property as the party to receive the bill for stormwater management service charge by completing and properly executing a form provided by the City. Such designation shall fairly allocate the impervious surfaces actually used by the billed party, and it shall be binding for the period of time specified by the City. No occupant may be designated as the party to receive the bill for stormwater management service charge unless the occupant is also receiving a City sewer service or combined sewer and water service bill. Such transfer does not relieve either the owner or occupant from liability for stormwater management service charges if they are not paid by the party billed. (e) The residents of townhouse, cluster unit, and condominium developments and other similar properties containing impervious surface in common areas may in accordance with this subsection charge the total impervious surface of all commonly-owned or common areas to the homeowners association. The bill for stormwater management service charge will be sent to the homeowners' association upon official request of a majority of all lot or unit owners of the association; provided that (1) the current adopted budget of the association includes this additional charge to the homeowners association, (2) the association is receiving a City sewer service bill or combined sewer and water service bill and (3) a payment bond in the amount of six (6) months estimated bill in favor of the City. Stormwater management service charges applied to all individually-owned property within the development may likewise be billed to the homeowners association. Any request for homeowner association billing must contain all information required by the City and shall be binding for the period of time specified by the City. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4007 PAYMENT PROVISIONS; UTILITY TERMINATION.

Sec. 6-4007. - PAYMENT PROVISIONS; UTILITY TERMINATION. (a) Where stormwater management service charges appear on a combined utility bill or a master summary bill, and a customer does not pay the service charges for all the utilities on the bill, the partial payment will be applied to the respective service charges in the following order: delinquent stormwater management service charges, delinquent recycling and/or solid waste management service charges, delinquent sewer service or combined sewer and water charges, current stormwater charges, current recycling and/or solid waste management service charges and current sewer service or combined sewer and water charges. (b) Stormwater management service charges are due at the collection office in City hall within the time period stated on the bill. Bills not paid within this time shall be charged a late fee as set forth in the City of Raleigh Fee Schedule. (c) Where a property receives sewer service or combined sewer and water service, if stormwater management service charges for that property are not paid, sewer service or combined sewer and water service to that property may be terminated, whether or not the stormwater management service charges were included on a combined utility bill. Termination will be handled in accordance with standard operation provisions of the City. At least twenty-one (21) days prior to termination of service, the City will post a sign or signs either upon the subject property or at convenient locations as it deems appropriate. Such posting shall advise that City sewer service or combined sewer and water service may be terminated and direct further inquiry to a listed telephone number. All postings are for the convenience of the public and any defective posting shall not invalidate the termination of City utility services. (d) No property for which stormwater management service charges are outstanding is entitled to receive sewer service or combined sewer and water service until the outstanding stormwater management service charge on that property is paid. No customer with a delinquent stormwater management service account is entitled to open a sewer service or a combined sewer and water account at the same or different location until the delinquency has been satisfied. (e) If property is underbilled, or not billed, or a bill is sent to the wrong party, the City may backbill up to a three-year period. (f) Customers with complaints about the accuracy of stormwater management service charges are entitled to a review as provided in section 6-4008. No charge will be retroactively adjusted to resolve customer complaints for a period of more than three-year prior to the date the City received the complaint. Any bill charges requiring adjustment must be applied through the utility billing system. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03; Ord. No. 2019-949, §1(Att.), 6-4-19, eff. 7-1-19)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4008 APPEAL.

Sec. 6-4008. - APPEAL. Any customer who believes the provisions of this chapter have been applied in error may appeal in the following manner: (1) An appeal must be filed in writing with the Chief Engineer. At the discretion of the Chief Engineer, the appeal may be required to include a survey prepared by a registered land surveyor and such other information that show the total property area, the impervious surface area, and any other features or conditions which influence the hydrologic response of the property to the stormwater events. (2) Using the information provided, the Chief Engineer shall conduct a technical review pursuant to good engineering practices. The Chief Engineer may adjust the stormwater service management charge so long as the adjustment is in conformance with the general purpose and intent of this chapter. At the conclusion of the review, the Chief Engineer shall issue a written determination stating whether an adjustment to the stormwater service management charge is appropriate, and if so, the percentage of such adjustment. Any approved adjustments must be communicated in writing to the appropriate utility billing staff. (3) An appeal may be taken from any decision of the Chief Engineer which is adverse to the customer by giving notice of appeal to the City Manager within thirty (30) days after service of the Chief Engineer's written decision on the customer. Notice of appeal shall be given by the customer by delivery of a written statement to the City Manager stating the grounds for the appeal and providing the City Manager with a copy of the written decision of the Chief Engineer. The Chief Engineer shall transmit to the City Manager and the customer all documents constituting the record upon which the Chief Engineer's decision was made. (4) All decisions of the Chief Engineer and City Manager shall be served on the customer personally or by registered or certified mail. Mailing shall be based upon the billing address of the customer. (5) Following the decision of the City Manager, the customer may make an appeal to the City Council. The City Council shall fix a reasonable time for the hearing of an appeal, shall give due notice of such hearing to the customer and the manager, and shall render its decision within a reasonable time. (6) When an appeal is from a decision authorizing an adjustment to the customer's bill, the Chief Engineer's decision shall remain in effect until and unless reversed or otherwise modified. No adjustment to a customer's bill shall be made which is for more than the three-year period immediately preceding the date that the customer's request is first received by the City. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03)

Raleigh City Code § 6-4009 LIMITATIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY.

Sec. 6-4009. - LIMITATIONS OF RESPONSIBILITY. (a) The City shall be responsible only for the portions of the drainage system which are in City maintained street rights-of-way and permanent storm drainage easements conveyed to and accepted by the City. Repairs and improvements to the drainage system shall be in accordance with established standards, policies, and schedules. (b) The City's acquisition of permanent storm drainage easements and/or the construction or repair by the City of stormwater control measures and drainage facilities does not constitute a warranty against stormwater hazards, including, but not limited to, flooding, erosion, or standing water. (Ord. No. 2003-537, §3, 11-5-03)

Source: City of Raleigh, North Carolina, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/nc/raleigh/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=DIVIICOGEOR_PT6CEEN_CH4STSEFetched: 11/1/2026