What is the proposed stormwater fee?
The proposed stormwater fee is a dedicated fee that will be used to maintain and improve Clay County's stormwater system. Unlike property taxes, this funding can only be used for stormwater-related projects and services.
Why is Clay County discussing a stormwater fee?
Clay County is responsible for maintaining stormwater infrastructure and protecting local waterways from pollution. The county must also comply with state and federal environmental regulations.
Historically, stormwater services have been funded through the General Fund, where they compete with other essential services like public safety.
A recent countywide stormwater study identified more than $30 million in needed capital improvements to the stormwater system. The new assessment creates a dedicated funding source to maintain and improve stormwater infrastructure while protecting homes, roads, businesses, and waterways.
Why not pay for stormwater through property taxes?
Property taxes are based on a property's value—not on how much stormwater runoff it creates.
The stormwater assessment is based on the amount of impervious surface on a property because hard surfaces create runoff that the county must manage.
What is an impervious surface?
An impervious surface is any hard surface that prevents rainwater from soaking into the ground.
Examples include:
- Roofs
- Driveways
- Sidewalks
- Parking lots
- Patios
- Other paved surfaces
Is this a tax?
No. The stormwater fee is a non-ad valorem assessment, not a property tax. It's dedicated solely to funding stormwater services and cannot be used for unrelated county expenses.
What is stormwater?
Stormwater is rainwater that flows off hard surfaces like roofs, roads, driveways, sidewalks, and parking lots instead of soaking into the ground.
As it flows, it can carry pollutants into creeks, rivers, lakes, wetlands, and other waterways.
Why is stormwater management important?
Stormwater management helps:
- Reduce flooding
- Improve roadway safety
- Protect homes and businesses
- Maintain drainage systems
- Improve water quality
- Protect local creeks, rivers, lakes, and wetlands
When will the fee begin?
If approved by the Clay County Board of County Commissioners, the fee will take effect on October 1, 2026.
Who will pay the stormwater fee?
Property owners in unincorporated Clay County will pay the fee unless their property qualifies for a mitigation credit.
Does this apply inside municipalities?
No. The proposed assessment applies only to unincorporated Clay County.
Properties within Orange Park, Green Cove Springs, Keystone Heights, and Penney Farms are not included. Some of those municipalities have their own stormwater programs.
How much will I pay?
The assessment is based on the amount of impervious surface on your property.
For single-family homes:
Commercial and other non-residential properties will be assessed based on their impervious surface using the county's Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) methodology.
What is an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)?
An Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) is the standard unit used to calculate stormwater assessments. One ERU represents the average amount of impervious surface on a typical single-family home. The dollar amount associated with Clay County's ERU measurement is $85.
How were building footprints determined?
Building footprints were calculated using building area data maintained by the Clay County Property Appraiser.
Will everyone pay the same amount?
No. The assessment is based on the amount of impervious surface on each property. Larger developed properties generally generate more stormwater runoff than smaller properties.
Will vacant property be charged?
No.
I own multiple properties. Will I pay for each one?
Yes. The assessment is calculated separately for each eligible property.
Why does my property have to pay a stormwater assessment if I live in a rural area, on a private road, or on a road without County-maintained ditches?
The stormwater assessment is based on a property's contribution to stormwater runoff and the broader services needed to manage that runoff—not solely on whether the property fronts a County-maintained road, ditch, or drainage structure.
When land is developed, impervious surfaces such as rooftops, driveways, parking areas, and other improvements prevent rainfall from soaking naturally into the ground. This creates additional stormwater runoff. In rural areas, that runoff may flow through swales, roadside areas, private drainage systems, neighboring properties, wetlands, creeks, ponds, or other natural drainage features before ultimately reaching the larger watershed.
Clay County's stormwater responsibilities extend beyond maintaining roadside ditches. The County must manage flooding and drainage issues, maintain and improve public drainage infrastructure, protect roads and other public facilities, meet water-quality requirements, respond to drainage problems, and plan for the movement of stormwater throughout the community.
A property therefore does not have to be located directly on a County-maintained road or next to a County-maintained ditch to contribute to stormwater runoff or benefit from the County's overall stormwater management program.
The assessment provides a dedicated funding source so that the cost of managing stormwater is shared among developed properties based on their impact on the stormwater system, rather than being determined solely by where a property is located or whether a particular drainage facility is immediately adjacent to it.
Why do I have to pay a County stormwater assessment if I live in a Community Development District (CDD) that already maintains our stormwater system?
Community Development Districts often own or maintain stormwater ponds, drainage facilities, roads, and other infrastructure within their individual communities. The assessments paid to a CDD support those specific facilities and services.
The County's stormwater assessment supports a different and broader set of stormwater responsibilities. Stormwater does not stop at the boundaries of a subdivision or CDD. Water leaving a community can ultimately enter larger drainage systems, wetlands, creeks, rivers, and other receiving waters that are part of the overall watershed.
Clay County is responsible for stormwater management activities that extend beyond an individual development, including maintaining and improving County drainage infrastructure, addressing regional drainage and flooding concerns, protecting County roads and public facilities, meeting water-quality and regulatory requirements, and planning for stormwater management across the County.
Therefore, living within a CDD does not necessarily mean that a property receives no benefit from, or has no impact on, the County's broader stormwater management program. The CDD assessment generally supports infrastructure and services within the district, while the County stormwater assessment supports stormwater responsibilities and improvements serving the larger community and watershed.
My property has never flooded. Why do I still pay?
Stormwater infrastructure benefits the entire community—not just properties that have flooded. The county maintains ditches, pipes, culverts, ponds, and drainage systems throughout unincorporated Clay County to reduce flooding and improve water quality.
Will the money only be used for stormwater?
Yes. State law restricts stormwater assessment revenue to stormwater-related purposes, including:
- Drainage maintenance
- Ditch cleaning
- Pipe and culvert repair
- Pond maintenance
- Flood mitigation projects
- Water quality improvements
- Engineering and inspections
- Regulatory compliance
- Stormwater capital improvements
The money cannot be used for unrelated county services.
How much revenue will the assessment generate?
The assessment is expected to generate $9,244,095 annually.
Why can't impact fees pay for this?
Impact fees can only pay for infrastructure needed because of new development.
They cannot be used to maintain or improve existing stormwater infrastructure throughout the county.
How will the assessment appear on my bill?
The assessment will appear on your annual property tax bill as a non-ad valorem stormwater assessment.
Are there any exemptions?
No, but certain properties may qualify for mitigation credits based on privately maintained stormwater facilities (25%), residential lots greater than 5 acres in size (50%), or bona fide farm operations (100%).
Veteran status and financial hardship do not qualify for an exemption.
Can I appeal my assessment?
Yes. Property owners who believe their assessment is incorrect will be able to appeal. Additional information about the appeal process will be available before the assessment takes effect.
Will the assessment increase in the future?
Any future changes would require action by the Clay County Board of County Commissioners during a public meeting.
Was this discussed publicly?
Yes. The Board of County Commissioners discussed the stormwater assessment during several public meetings in 2025 and 2026.
When were property owners notified?
The Clay County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing to consider adoption of the Stormwater Utility and Assessment Ordinance during a regularly-scheduled Board meeting on July 28, 2026. Following the hearing, affected property owners were notified of the proposed fee's impact on their property by first-class mail in early August. The Board will hold a final public hearing and vote on the proposed fee at its final meeting in August.
How was the assessment determined?
Clay County hired an independent consultant to conduct a comprehensive stormwater rate study.
The study evaluated:
- Existing stormwater needs
- Future infrastructure improvements
- Property data
- Impervious surface measurements
- Funding options
- Rate structures
How can I read the study, ordinance, and resolution?
Stormwater Utility and Assessment Ordinance - Ordinance No. 2026-33
Initial Stormwater Assessment Resolution 2025/2026 – 61
Stormwater Utility Rate Structure Determination and Implementation
Do other Florida communities have stormwater assessments?
Yes. Many counties and cities throughout Florida—including several municipalities within Clay County—use dedicated stormwater assessments to fund drainage maintenance, flood mitigation, and water quality improvements.
How can I ask a question?
You can email Assessmentcoordinator@ClayCountyGov.com with additional questions.
