Stormwater Utility Rate Structure

A rate structure was as an important step for Carrboro’s stormwater program in 2018, and updated in 2020.  The rate structure is based on: Carrboro’s Town Code, which provides the legal structure; anticipated expenses for the utility; a GIS study of impervious surfaces in Carrboro; and experience from other North Carolina jurisdictions that have implemented utilities.  Fees are calculated as a funciton of impervious surface relative to the “Equivalent Residential Unit” (ERU) of impervious surface.  The rate structure is shown below. Additional information on changes in 2020 can be found here.

Rate Structure

 (Annual Service Charge/Fee)

Residential (1 ERU): < 6000 sf impervious area...................$90

                                   6000 sf impervious area or more........$180

Non-residential:

Tier 1 (1 ERU)............................. $90

Tier 2 (5 ERUs)........................... $450

Tier 3 (11 ERUs) ........................ $990

Tier 4 (17 ERUs) ....................... $1,530

Tier 5 (25 ERUs) ....................... $2,250

Additional Tiers (+10 ERUs)*….add $900 from the immediately adjacent lower tier

*in 10 ERU increments, price per tier, total of 22 tiers.  The largest tier has 195 ERUs.  The annual fee for this tier is $17,550.  A table showing all 22 non-residential tiers is provided here.