Lake County Stormwater User Fee Program

How it works

Lake County says it instituted a Stormwater User Fee program because a federal mandate requires local governments to bear the costs of the new regulations. The fee is assessed on individual parcels of land based on the amount of impervious area on the property.

What the money covers

The page says the impervious area on a property is used because it is a good indicator of runoff that leads to pollution. The fee supports the county’s stormwater management system and related regulatory obligations.

Amounts and matching

Residential properties are charged a flat rate based on an average impervious area of 3,050 square feet for each parcel. The page states that, because participating communities are Level 2 member communities, residential parcels are charged $3.50 per month or $42.00 annually.

Nonresidential properties are charged based on the square footage they contain divided by the equivalent residential unit (ERU), which is 3,050 sq. ft. For example, a commercial property of 9,150 sq. ft. equals 3 ERU and would be charged $10.50 per month.

How to apply

There is no homeowner application for a grant or rebate. If a property owner believes they were improperly charged, they may submit a User Fee Adjustment Request form to the department. The application must include complete property owner information.

Timing and deadlines

Adjustment requests must be submitted within 30 days of receipt of the bill. The county says incomplete applications will be returned for correction. Once received, the department reviews and verifies the request. If approved, confirmation is mailed to the property owner; if disapproved, the county sends a letter explaining why. The page says to allow 2 to 3 weeks for processing.