policy
Tallahassee Raises Stormwater Fees to $11.50 Monthly, Matching Orlando and Gainesville
The July 7 vote sets a new monthly base fee for most single-family homes at $11.50 starting January 2027, with the structure now aligned to formulas already operating in Orlando and Gainesville.
How we reported this
The Tallahassee City Council voted 5-2 on July 7 to adopt a revised stormwater utility fee schedule that mirrors the tiered calculation method already in use in Orlando and Gainesville. The change applies to all properties inside city limits and will appear on utility bills issued by the city’s Public Works Department.
The adjustment follows the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s 2025 update to municipal stormwater permitting rules, which require cities to demonstrate dedicated funding for drainage maintenance. Tallahassee last revised its fee schedule in 2019, and staff presented the new rates during the council’s regular meeting at City Hall.
Effects for Tallahassee Households and Businesses
Single-family homeowners will pay the new $11.50 monthly base rate plus a per-square-foot charge on impervious surface. Apartment complexes and commercial properties fall into higher tiers, with the city estimating an average annual increase of $48 for a typical 1,800-square-foot residence. Local advocates note that renters may see the cost passed through in lease renewals after the first quarter of 2027.
City documents show the fee revenue is directed to the Stormwater Management Fund, which covers maintenance of 312 miles of drainage pipes and 47 retention ponds. The 2026 adopted budget allocated $4.8 million from this fund for capital projects, a figure that will rise under the new rate structure.
Comparison with Other Florida Cities
Under the adopted formula, Tallahassee’s per-household charge sits between Orlando’s $12.75 base and Gainesville’s $9.80 base for equivalent lot sizes. Jacksonville uses a flat rate that averages $14.20 monthly, while Tampa’s tiered system produces an average of $10.90. The council’s action brings Tallahassee’s calculation method in line with the three cities that already tie fees directly to measured impervious area rather than property value.
Implementation begins with the January 2027 billing cycle. The city will mail notices to all utility customers in October 2026 and open a 60-day period for property owners to request impervious-surface measurements. Appeals will be handled by the Public Works Department using the same aerial imagery standards already employed in Orlando.