Cary Considers New Stormwater Fee Billing Structure
Property owners could face new fees based on impervious surface area if the town shifts away from its flat-rate funding model.
Updated on Oct. 28, 2026 in Utilities
Live Poll
Do you support calculating local stormwater fees based on property impervious surface area?
The Cary Town Council is evaluating a potential shift in how it funds stormwater infrastructure, moving from a general fund model to a fee-based system. This proposal, discussed at the October 27, 2026, meeting, could transition the town away from its current flat-rate funding structure.
Why it matters
Property owners currently contribute to stormwater services through the general fund, but the town is exploring a fee structure tied directly to impervious surface area. This change would shift cost distribution, prioritizing individual property impact over the existing blanket model.
Consultants analyzed the property characteristics of 52,000 billable customers to model a new revenue structure. The town currently covers all stormwater costs via the general fund, leaving the specific impact of a fee-based system on individual property owners undetermined.
The players
Cary Town Council
The local legislative body responsible for municipal fiscal policy and utility management in Cary, North Carolina.
Corvias Infrastructure Solutions
A private consulting firm that specializes in managing infrastructure data and utility financing models for municipal governments.
The details
The proposed model uses Equivalent Residential Units to calculate fees based on a property's total impervious surface area, such as rooftops and paved lots. This approach replaces the current flat-rate system with a variable cost structure that scales with the amount of water a property contributes to the stormwater system. The Town Council took no action on the proposed fee model during the October 27 meeting.
Timeline
October 27, 2026: The Cary Town Council met to discuss potential revisions to stormwater billing.
Market Landscape
This proposal aligns with a national shift toward stormwater utility fee structures designed to isolate infrastructure costs from general municipal taxation. It follows a pattern where municipalities adopt impervious surface metrics to balance the cost of flood management against private property use.
Business owners should assess their property's total impervious surface area to gauge potential cost exposure under a per-unit fee model. While no fees have been established, monitoring upcoming council sessions will be necessary to anticipate budget impacts for commercial properties.
The takeaway
The transition to an impervious-surface fee model would tie your utility costs directly to property development density rather than general tax revenue. Monitor town council meeting minutes to identify when a formal fee schedule or threshold is proposed for public comment.
Further reading
For broader context on how local infrastructure funding affects your business, explore the Utilities section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by WRAL.
Live Poll
Do you support calculating local stormwater fees based on property impervious surface area?
