About the WPRF:
Everyone lives within a few miles of one of the countless streams, creeks, and rivers that can be a direct pipeline from your home to the Bay. In rain events, pollutants such as fertilizers, pet waste, motor oil, soapy water from car washing, and septic tank overflow get washed into nearby tributaries and eventually the Bay. Stormwater runoff is the fastest-growing source of water pollution in Maryland.
In 2015, the State Legislature passed a law allowing Maryland's ten largest jurisdictions to assess property owners a stormwater remediation fee to provide a dedicated source of revenue for the operating, maintenance, and capital improvement expense of stormwater management programs regulated and required by the State and Federal governments. In Anne Arundel County, this resulted in the introduction of the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (WPRF), more commonly known as the stormwater fee.
The WPRF is billed annually as a separate line item on your annual real property tax bill. To view or pay your real property tax bill online, click here.
Search Watershed Protection & Restoration Fee by Address
Use our ArcGIS mapping application to look up information regarding your property’s WPRF.
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WPRF Rate Information
The calculations for the Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (WPRF), also known as the stormwater fee, vary by property type. Depending on the property type, the fee will either be calculated using the amount of impervious surface on the property or will be a flat rate.
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Stormwater Management Property Tax Credit Program
Residential and commercial property owners may be eligible to receive a credit towards their County real property taxes for the recent installation of qualified stormwater management practices.
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WPRF Credit Program
Anne Arundel County has established policies and procedures that provide property owners who have certain stormwater controls on their property the opportunity to reduce their annual Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (WPRF), also known as the stormwater fee, by up to 50%.
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WPRF Appeal Program
The Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (WPRF) Appeal Program is intended for property owners who feel that they have been billed in error. In addition, there is a Financial Hardship Exemption that residents can apply for if they meet certain eligibility criteria.
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Update your Mailing Address with SDAT
Property owners are encouraged to review their tax account records or check with the MARYLAND DEPARTMENT OF ASSESSMENTS & TAXATION (SDAT) to ensure that the mailing address for their tax account is correct. This address is used for WPRF billing. Anne Arundel County cannot change the address on behalf of the property owner.
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State of MD Watershed Protection & Restoration Program
The Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (HB987) was signed into law in April 2012. The program establishes a system of stormwater remediation fees and a local watershed protection and restoration fund (WPRF) that must be implemented by counties and municipalities that are subject to a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase I Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit in Maryland.
Contact Us:
For questions regarding your property’s WPRF, contact us at 410-222-7536 or wprf@aacounty.org. For questions regarding bill payment, contact the Office of Finance at 410-222-1144.