In November 2025, Carrollton City Council unanimously approved an ordinance establishing a stormwater fund, providing a dedicated revenue source for maintenance and improvement of the City’s stormwater drainage system.

The fund’s associated fee will also support critical capital improvement projects, such as drainage infrastructure, channel improvements, flood mitigation, and dam enhancements. Beginning October 1, the fee will be applied to utility customers’ monthly bills.

The monthly stormwater fee will follow a tiered structure determined by each property’s contribution to the drainage system. The contribution is based on the size of the property’s impervious area (IA), which consists of hard, man-made surfaces that prevent stormwater from soaking into the soil. Roofs, garages, driveways, patios, and similar areas are all examples of IA.

Customer tiers are measured by the City. Approximately 80 percent of residential properties will fall into Tier 2.

            *Tier 1 = less than 2,100 sq. ft. impervious area (IA)
              Tier 2 = 2,100-4,500 sq. ft. IA
              Tier 3 = greater than 4,500 sq. ft. IA

            **ERU (Equivalent Residential Unit) = 3,300 square feet impervious area

Stormwater is rainwater that flows over streets, rooftops, and other surfaces, carrying pollutants into creeks, ponds, and eventually, the Trinity River. Unlike wastewater from sinks and toilets, stormwater does not go to a treatment plant.

The City manages stormwater to protect environmental and public health. The new ordinance requires that any funds collected can only be used for the stormwater system to ensure strong, efficient infrastructure. Effective system maintenance is critical to preventing flooding, safeguarding local drinking water sources, and positioning the community for a sustainable future.

The types of projects funded by the stormwater fee will fall into two categories: operations and maintenance, and capital improvements. Operations and maintenance include mowing around ponds and drainage channels, increasing street sweeping, and providing more pipe inspections and channel maintenance. Capital improvements include Woodlake Dam, the Hutton Drive drainage channel, a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) map update, an underground stormwater evaluation, and more.

Carrollton joins many other North Texas cities that have adopted stormwater fees, including Addison, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Lewisville, Plano, and more.

Certain properties will be exempt from the stormwater fee. The fee will not apply to property owned by the City, counties, independent school districts or open-enrollment charter schools, and tax-exempt religious institutions.