Politics
West Palm Beach Approves New Stormwater Fee Ordinance Starting October 1
The ordinance sets new stormwater management rates effective October 1 that will appear on utility statements sent to West Palm Beach property owners.
How we reported this
West Palm Beach City Council voted 5-2 on July 8 to adopt Ordinance 2026-14, which revises the city's stormwater utility fee schedule for the 2027 fiscal year. The measure applies to all residential and commercial parcels within city limits and replaces the flat rate structure used since 2019.
The vote occurred during the council's regular meeting at City Hall. Council members reviewed the city's 2025 stormwater master plan update, which identified 47 drainage projects still unfunded after Hurricane Ian repairs. The ordinance directs revenue to those projects rather than the general fund.
Impact on household and business accounts
Under the new schedule, single-family homes will see their stormwater line item rise from the current $8.75 per month to a tiered amount based on impervious surface area. Properties with driveways and roofs exceeding 2,000 square feet will pay $12.50 monthly. Multi-family buildings and commercial sites will face rates calculated per 1,000 square feet of impervious cover, with the city posting the full rate table on its public works website.
City records show stormwater fees currently generate $4.8 million annually. The adjustment is projected to add $1.9 million in the first year, according to the finance department's July 2 memorandum attached to the ordinance. That revenue stays within the stormwater enterprise fund and cannot be transferred for other uses.
Residents who receive combined water, sewer and stormwater bills from the city will see the change on their October statements. Property owners in the 33401 and 33405 ZIP codes, which contain the largest share of older housing stock, account for 38 percent of current accounts and will receive notices by mail in August.
Next steps for implementation
The public works department will begin mailing individualized fee calculations to 28,400 accounts on August 15. Appeals for measurement errors must be filed by September 20 and will be handled by the city's code enforcement division. The first collections under the new rates begin with the October billing cycle.
Staff will present a six-month progress report on collections and project bidding at the January 2027 council meeting. No additional rate changes are scheduled before the 2028 budget process.