Stormwater runoff has been identified as the major source of pollutants to the lakes and streams throughout Polk County. Federal and State stormwater permit requirements mandate that the county, and each of the 17 cities within the county, have stormwater management programs to reduce the level of pollutants in stormwater runoff. In June 2012, Polk County adopted an ordinance to fund these stormwater management program activities through an unincorporated Polk County stormwater assessment. The fee assessed to each parcel is based on the estimated amount of stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces on the property including buildings, driveways, parking areas and other hard surfaces that prevent stormwater from being absorbed into the soil. An analysis has shown that, on average, Polk County residential properties have 4,030 square feet of impervious area. This average is called the Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU). The recommended annual Stormwater Assessment Fee in Polk County is established at $54.30 per ERU. The number of ERUs on each parcel has been calculated by dividing the impervious surface area by the 4,030 square foot area of the base ERU.
The Polk County Board of County Commissioners will hold a public hearing at the Neil Combee Administration Building, 330 W. Church St. in Bartow, FL at 6:00 p.m. on September 13, 2012 to receive comments on the Stormwater Assessment Fee. You may file written comments to the Parks and Natural Resources Division, 4177 Ben Durrance Road, Bartow, FL 33830 within twenty (20) days of the date of this notice. Please include your name and parcel number on all written comments. After receiving comments, the Board will finalize its decision regarding the rates for the stormwater assessment. The Stormwater Assessment Fee will be collected by the Polk County Tax Collector, pursuant to Chapter 197, Florida Statutes, and failure to pay the assessment will cause a tax certificate to be issued against the assessed property which may result in a lien on the title to the property.
Why is the Stormwater Assessment necessary?
In response to federal and state mandates for local governments to improve the quality of stormwater runoff, on June 26th, 2012 Polk County adopted a Stormwater Assessment Ordinance and Initial Assessment Rate Resolution. This established the preliminary rates to be assessed to lands in only the unincorporated Polk County. No one within a city limit will be affected. This action has resulted in many questions as to why this is needed. more...
Stormwater Assessment FAQs
Stormwater runoff has been identified as the major source of pollutants to the lakes and streams throughout Polk County. Federal and State stormwater permit requirements mandate that the county, and each of the 17 cities within the county, have stormwater management programs to reduce the level of pollutants in stormwater runoff. In June 2012, Polk County adopted an ordinance to fund these stormwater management program activities through an unincorporated Polk County stormwater assessment. more...
Stormwater Mitigation Credit
The County recognizes that some developed properties subject to the stormwater assessment have constructed and currently operate and maintain stormwater facilities that can reduce stormwater runoff impacts from the subject property and thus reduce the burden n the County to maintain, operate and provide capital improvements to the stormwater management system. more...
If you have any questions, please call the Polk County Parks and Natural Resources Division at (863) 534-7377, Monday - Friday between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. or go to the county website at www.polk-county.net.