Stormwater Utility
The City of Essex Junction formed a stormwater utility on April 23, 2025, to create a fair, equitable, and stable source of funding for stormwater management that is paid by all properties, including tax-exempt. This initiative is in response to State-mandated permitting, which requires the City to manage and decrease the amount of stormwater runoff entering local waterways and Lake Champlain.
Over the past few years, the permit requirements and aging stormwater infrastructure have led to an increase in the general fund budget. To address this, the proposal to create a Stormwater Utility aims to separate these fees from the general fund. The utility fee would apply to taxable and tax-exempt properties and be dedicated to funding essential stormwater infrastructure and administrative costs. While this is a new fee, the stormwater expenses in the general fund (i.e., paid for via the tax levy) will be removed in the future, except for the City's own stormwater fee that it will be responsible for paying.
The stormwater utility fee is structured similarly to water or sewer fees and is based on a property’s impervious surface, which contributes to stormwater runoff. It would also be part of the utility bill sent tri-annually for sewer and water use. The Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) has been established as the standard unit of charge. For single-family homes, duplexes, and triplexes, the charge will be 1 ERU. Non-single-family residential property fees will be calculated based on their measured impervious area. For more detailed information see the public hearing document below.
Stormwater Utility Ordinance
On April 23, 2025, the City Council adopted Chapter 21 Regulation of Stormwater Utility ordinance and related a credit manual for non-single-family properties. This ordinance outlines all aspects of the utility.
Stormwater User Fee Credit Manual
A credit manual was developed for non-single-family residential parcels to provide incentives for stormwater management practices. This manual will offer up to a 50% credit towards stormwater utility fees for eligible parcels. Credit Manual
Credits must be applied for using the applications listed below. Instructions for completing these applications can be found on the credit application forms.
For Fiscal Year 2026, which begins on July 1, 2025, credit applications are due by May 16, 2025. This deadline allows City staff adequate time to review the applications and apply approved credits to stormwater utility bills before the first round of bills is mailed in October.
After this initial deadline, credit applications will be due by January 1 of each subsequent calendar year. Please note that credits will be applied to the following fiscal year.
Combined Sewer Credit Fillable Form
Education Application Fillable Form
STP Credit Application Fillable Form
NPDES State Stormwater Permit Credit Application Fillable Form
Stormwater MS4 Credit Application Fillable Form
For any questions regarding the utility, contact Chelsea Mandigo, Water Quality Superintendent.
Check out a detailed breakdown of the fee structure.
Stormwater Utility Fee Flowchart