The Watershed Protection Fee funds projects that treat stormwater runoff and improve the stormwater infrastructure in Howard County. These projects aim to improve the water quality of streams in your backyard, other local waterways, and the Chesapeake Bay. All property owners are charged a fee based on the size of their property (residential) or the amount of impervious area on their property (commercial & non-profits) that allows untreated stormwater to run off to the nearest stream.
The Watershed Protection Fee will be included on the real property tax bills which will be issued July 1 of each year and is only billed once per year. Watershed Protection Fee credit applications must be submitted before April 1st in order for any credit to be applied to the current year tax bill.
For owners of residential properties with improvements, the annual watershed protection fee structure is as follows:
- $15 for owners of townhouses and condominiums
- $45 for owners of homes on lots of one-quarter acre or less
- $90 for owners of homes on lots larger than one-quarter acre.
If you aren't sure about the exact size of your lot, check the State Departments of Assesments and Taxation's website here.
Quick Links:
- View the impervious area being billed on your property. **This is based on 2016 impervious data**
- If you believe you were billed in error (note County law only allows adjustments for 3 specific reasons) please complete the Adjustment Request Form here.
- Reduce your property’s fee with a fee credit and help improve the quality of local waterways by adopting stormwater management practices. Learn more here.