Surface Water Assessment Fee adjustment information available

Assessment information is a phone call away

Residents of unincorporated Pinellas County are reminded that they can call Pinellas County Watershed Management at (727) 464-4425 before Thursday, Oct. 10, to see if they qualify for an adjustment on their Surface Water Assessment Fee. Phones are answered Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Surface Water Assessment Fee that is being collected on property parcels in unincorporated Pinellas County is a user fee for stormwater services, which addresses flooding, water quality and the operation of county-owned stormwater systems. The assessment is based on impervious surface area, which is a hard surface that does not absorb water, like parking lots and buildings. Impervious areas increase the amount of stormwater runoff, which can cause flooding and pollution problems.

Small homes of less than 1,575 square feet are being assessed an annual fee of $69.60, medium homes up to 4,367 square feet are being assessed an annual fee of $116 and large homes of from 4,368–10,000 sq. ft pay $266.80.

Surface Water Assessment Fees were included in the 2013 Truth in Millage (TRIM) notices sent out by the Pinellas County Property Appraiser. Home owners may look up their individual assessments on the 2013 surface assessment roll.

Adjustments have been made to assessments on some properties with pool enclosures or where the livable area is located above a garage or similar feature.

Surface Water Assessment Fee FAQs