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Water and Land Resources Division, King County, Washington

Annual rates
King County Surface Water Management Fee

Annual SWM rates January 1-December 31, 2013
Rate class Description % Imperv. surface Fee
1 Residential NA $151.00 per parcel
2 Very light ≤ 10% $151.00 per parcel
3 Light > 10 ≤ 20% $363.89 per acre
4 Moderate > 20 ≤ 45% $797.46 per acre
5 Moderately heavy > 45 ≤ 65% $1,361.27 per acre
6 Heavy > 65 ≤ 85% $1,863.37 per acre
7 Very heavy > 85 ≤ 100% $2,323.03 per acre

 

Annual SWM rates beginning January 1, 2014
Rate class Description % Imperv. surface Fee
1 Residential - $171.50 per parcel
2 Very light ≤ 10% $171.50 per parcel
3 Light > 10 ≤ 20% $413.38 per acre
4 Moderate > 20 ≤ 45% $905.91 per acre
5 Moderately heavy > 45 ≤ 65% $1,546.40 per acre
6 Heavy > 65 ≤ 85% $2,116.79 per acre
7 Very heavy > 85 ≤ 100% $2,638.96 per acre

Fee discounts

Discounts are aimed at decreasing runoff and promoting the reduction of impervious surface – the main contributor to surface water runoff and its effects: poor water quality, erosion, flooding, and sedimentation – to comply with the federal Clean Water Act. To find out what discounts are available, visit the SWM Fee discounts page.

Impervious surface reduction cost-sharing program

King County will share the costs of converting impervious surface to native-vegetated landscape, compost-amended lawn, or grassed modular-grid pavement. Reduction in impervious surface could potentially place you into a lower rate category, reducing your fee assessment. To find out more, refer to our SWM fee cost-sharing program.

Administrative appeals process

If you believe the impervious surface measurement on your property is incorrect, the calculation of your SWM fee is incorrect, or that a discount has not properly been applied to your surface water management fee, please speak to one of our customer service representatives at 206-296-6519 so that we can review your assessment promptly. In some cases, you may already qualify for a discount; in others, fee reductions may not be granted until the next year.

Visit the Common Questions and Answers page for answers to other surface water management-related questions. For more detailed technical information about surface water management fee measurement, discount requirements, how to apply for a cost-sharing grant, or about pervious surface credits, refer to SWM Fee Protocols document.

Re-measurement

To ensure King County’s measurements of your impervious surface are accurate, re-measurement is always available. Contact a customer service representative at 206-296-6519.

Why the SWM fees have increased

For information on why the SWM fee has increased in 2013 and 2014, please refer to our Surface Water Managment (SWM) fee fact sheet (197 Kb Acrobat pdf).

For more information about SWM fee rates and discounts, please call King County Water and Land Resources Division at 206-296-6519.

Related information

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