Council learns about proposed stormwater fee restructuring

When rain falls in Tyler, where it lands makes a difference. Rain that falls on grass and other natural areas can soak into the ground, while water that lands on rooftops, driveways, parking lots, and other hard surfaces runs off and must be managed by the City’s stormwater system.

As part of the proposed Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget, the City of Tyler is considering a restructuring of the Stormwater Fee to create a more equitable system that better reflects the amount of hard surface on each property.

The City Council received a presentation on the proposed restructuring during the Wednesday, Aug. 26, meeting. If the City Council approves an update to Ordinance Sec. 19-67. Storm Water/Drainage Surcharge at a later meeting, the new fee structure would take effect Jan. 1, 2027. 

Under the new structure, the City would use an Equivalent Residential Unit, or ERU, to calculate the fee. One ERU would represent 3,454 square feet of hard surface and would cost $4.90 per month.

Hard surfaces include rooftops, driveways, parking lots, and other areas that do not allow rainwater to soak naturally into the ground. The more hard surface a property has, the more stormwater runoff it can create for the City’s system to manage.

For residential properties, the monthly fee would be based on the amount of hard surface on the property, with a minimum charge of one ERU, or $4.90 per month. Non-residential properties would be charged based on the actual amount of hard surface on the property. ERUs for non-residential properties would not be rounded.

Because the proposed structure looks more closely at the amount of hard surface on individual properties, the change would affect each property differently. Some residential customers may see a reduction in their monthly Stormwater Fee, while others may see little or no change.

The Stormwater Fee helps fund maintenance and improvements to the City’s stormwater system, which manages rainwater runoff throughout Tyler. Because stormwater moves across property lines and through neighborhoods, the system benefits the community as a whole.

More information about the proposed Stormwater Fee restructuring and other utility account updates is available at MyTylerTexas.com.