Stormwater

Contact Us

The City of Statesville strives to manage stormwater to preserve and protect life, support healthy natural resources, comply with federal and state regulations and improve infrastructure.

Call the City's Stormwater Hotline at 866-4-1-STORM or 704-761-2376 if you:

  • Have specific questions about stormwater
  • Want to report a stormwater-related problem
  • Are interested in participating in or hosting an upcoming Educational opportunity or City-sponsored Stormwater Program event

What is stormwater?

Stormwater runoff is excess rain water that runs off from land surfaces during and following rainfall. A certain amount of rainfall will naturally soak into the ground, particularly if the land cover is vegetated or has a tree canopy. Before land is developed, a significant portion of rainfall soaks infiltrates into the ground, thereby resulting in much less surface runoff.

In developed conditions, however, less of the rainfall can soak into the ground and surface runoff generally increases. Increased runoff contributes to higher peak flows in drainage systems and receiving streams, as well as a greater volume of runoff. Higher peak flows and greater volume contribute to urban stormwater management concerns, including flooding safety hazards, property damage, soil and stream erosion, and impacts to surface water quality and stream health.



Stormwater Rates & Fees

Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU)

  • $4.70 per ERU

Grading only or Full Construction Documents**

  • $500 per project + $100 per acre of disturbance

Revision to Approved Plans

  • $500 per project + $100 per acre of disturbance

** If no revisions are required between grading only and full construction, then no additional stormwater review fees are required.

How to determine your Stormwater Service Fees?

Stormwater Service Fee: $4.70 per Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) per month

An ERU represents 3,050 square feet of impervious area

Impervious Area:    <500 sq ft    >500 sq ft

Single Family Residential Properties:    No ERU    1 ERU

All Other Properties:     No ERU    *see below

*Calculate the Impervious area on the property (sq. ft.). Divide by 3,050 to get ERUs. Round up to the nearest whole ERU. Multiply the whole ERUs by the Service Fee ($4.70) to determine the total monthly Stormwater Utility Fee.

About the stormwater fee:

Beginning July 1, 2019, property owners inside the city limits of Statesville will be charged a monthly stormwater fee. About the Stormwater Fee Stormwater Utility customers are billed monthly on the same bill as their water/sewer and/or electric services. Customers who do not receive these services from the city will receive a Stormwater services bill on the same monthly billing cycle.

Why use “impervious area” in determining stormwater charges?

All developed property within the City limits (residential or commercial) has impervious area. Impervious area is a term used to refer to hard surfaces on a property that do not allow rain to soak into the ground. Rooftops, parking lots, sidewalks, gravel, or asphalt driveways, and patios are all considered impervious areas. The Stormwater Service Fee structure reflects the amount of runoff that each individual property contributes to the community’s overall stormwater runoff. The more impervious surface area on a property, the greater the amount of stormwater that runs off into our culverts and streams, thus the greater the demand on the drainage infrastructure. The fee is set up so that properties that produce more runoff are assessed a greater stormwater service fee.

What is an Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) and how was it developed?

An Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU) was developed for Statesville by taking a sampling of single family residential properties across the city. The median amount of impervious area was determined to be 3,050 square feet. All nonsingle family residential (non-SFR) properties were also measured. All SFR properties will be assessed one ERU or $4.70 per month. Non-residential properties will be assessed $4.70 for each ERU (3,050 square feet of impervious surface) per month.

National Pollutant Discharge & Elimination System

The City of Statesville received its National Pollutant Discharge & Elimination System (NPDES) permit in November of 2016. This permit is frequently referred to as a Phase II permit. It was issued by the EPA and is administered by the NC Department of Environmental Quality. This permit has minimum measures the City has to comply with and has 5 years to do so. The City has taken steps to implement a program to improve the quality of stormwater runoff. Statesville's Stormwater Management Program went into effect July 1, 2019, and is in compliance with the above measures as well as initial efforts to improve the City's stormwater infrastructure.

Watch the below video to understand the value of planning for Stormwater Projects. Considering the frequent rain events that the region has been experiencing this year, this video illustrates the value, planning, and importance of investing in municipal Stormwater infrastructure.

Understanding the Value of Planning for Stormwater Projects

Stormwater Regulations, Standards & Policies

*Click on the appropriate link below for additional details

CLICK Link Below:Description:
Statesville Stormwater Ordinance 13-19An ordinance amending the Unified Development Code, Article 8 Public Facility Requirements, Section 8.02 Stormwater Management & Sections 8.02, 8.03 and Article 10 Appendicies.
Illicit Discharge & Illicit Connection Ordinance 17-20An ordinance amending Chapter 20 of the Statesville City Code.
Drainage Design ManualCity of Statesville Drainage Design Manual. Effective July 1, 2019.
Floodplain Development Regulations - Section 2.25Section 2.25 Floodplain Development Permit.
NPDES PermitPursuant to the requirements in North Carolina General Statue 143-215.1 and the Memorandum of Agreement between North Carolina and the U.S. Environmental Agency dated October 15, 2007 (or as subsequently amended), the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality is hereby renewing coverage for the subject Minicipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit.
Stormwater Fee & Rate GuideHow to determine your Stormwater Service fees.
Storm Drainage PolicyCity of Statesville Storm Drainage Policy.


Upcoming City Events:

Displaying 30 Events:
Districts 1 & District 4 Community Meeting
May 16, 2024
6:00 PM EDT
1206 Museum Rd
Statesville, NC 28625
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Dive-In Movies: The Little Mermaid
May 26, 2024
8:00 PM EDT
1877 Simonton Rd.
Statesville, NC 28625
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Statesville Convention & Visitors Bureau Meeting
May 28, 2024
9:00 AM EDT
111 Depot Lane
Statesville, NC 28677
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Latest News from the Stormwater Division:

New Iredell County Digital Flood Maps Available for ReviewIredell County – Iredell County will host a Public Open House on Monday, February 5th, 2024, from 5:00 pm – 7:00 p.m., at the N.C. Coope...
North Carolina Floodplain Mapping Program – Preliminary ... The preliminary flood data, including the Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) and Flood Insurance Study (FIS) report, are available for revi...
Storm Drain Marketing EventJoin us at the Hidden Lakes community swimming pool lot on Saturday, December 3 at 12PM to help us mark storm drains!

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