In order to be eligible for a WPRF credit, the property’s stormwater management practices must be covered under an Agreement with the County that:
- Outlines a landowner’s responsibility for maintaining the practices
- Allows the County reasonable access for inspection
Stormwater management practices that were installed under a Grading Permit typically meet this requirement through an Inspection and Maintenance Agreement for Private Stormwater Management that was entered into with the County prior to issuance of the Grading Permit. However, small-scale stormwater management practices that did not require a Grading Permit for installation are not typically covered under any such Agreement.
As a result, the Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration established the Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement to provide property owners who install small-scale practices on their property with the opportunity to meet the requirements of the WPRF Credit program.
This Guidance Document lays out the framework and procedures for the use of this Agreement:
WPRF Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement Guidance Document
Questions:
Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions below. For additional questions about the WPRF Credit Program, please contact us at 410-222-7536 or wprf@aacounty.org.
The Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement is an agreement by and between the property owner and the County, where currently there is no Inspection and Maintenance Agreement for Private Stormwater Management and a County grading permit was not required for the installation of the stormwater practice(s), and the property owner would like to apply for credit for the practice(s) through the WPRF Credit Program.
This agreement outlines the landowners’ responsibilities for maintaining the practice(s) and allows the County reasonable access for inspection.
A Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement, if needed, can be entered into during the WPRF Credit application process.
The applicant should submit their WPRF Credit application to the County and the County will subsequently provide the property owner with an unsigned draft of the Agreement specific to their property. All of the owners listed on the property’s deed will need to sign the draft Agreement and return a hard copy by mail to the County. If the credit is approved, this Agreement will then be signed by the County. If the credit is not approved, this Agreement will not be signed by the County and will become void.
If approved, the final Agreement, with signatures from both the property owner(s) and the County, will be provided to the applicant with the WPRF credit decision.
In the event that the Owner transfers the Property to a new owner(s), the WPRF Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement that the Owner had with the County shall automatically terminate and no longer be effective as this type of agreement does not transfer. The new owner will be contacted by the County and will be given a chance to enter into a new WPRF Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement to continue the application of the credit. If the new owner does not enter into a new Agreement in the specified time frame, the credit will be revoked as this Agreement is a condition of approval. If the credit is revoked for this reason, it does not prevent the new owner from re-applying for a Fee Credit on the property in the future.
Stormwater management practices must meet the following criteria to enter into a Fee Credit Agreement:
- Not under an Inspection and Maintenance Agreement for Private Stormwater Management
- Privately owned and maintained
- Located on the landowner’s parcel
- Provides water quality treatment (minimum of 1” of rainfall treated for full credit, partial credit available for less treatment)
- Designed, constructed, and maintained in accordance with the County Standards, Stormwater Management Practices and Procedures Manual, and/or the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II, and Supplements.
Prior to a WPRF Credit being approved, the practice(s) on the application will need to pass an inspection by County staff to verify that they have been properly designed, constructed, and maintained.
The following examples are typical single-family property stormwater management practices, however, other practices may be eligible.
| Stormwater BMP | Description |
|---|---|
| Dry Well |
Excavated pits filled with gravel or stone that provide temporary storage of runoff from rooftops.
|
Infiltration Trench
| Trenches filled with stone that allow stormwater to infiltrate into surrounding soils. |
Rain Garden
| A shallow depressed landscaped area with perennials and native vegetation that allows stormwater runoff from impervious surfaces to be filtered. |
Permeable Pavement
|
Permeable pavement provides a solid ground surface, structurally strong enough to take heavy loads, like large vehicles, while at the same time they allow water to filter through the surface and reach the underlying soils. Permeable pavers are ideal for patios, sidewalks, and driveways. The voids in the surface of the paving allow water to drain through and infiltrate into the soil below. The underlying in-situ soils should be suitable for infiltration.
|
| Rainwater Harvesting |
Rainwater harvesting is a method by which rainwater that falls upon a surface (usually a rooftop) is collected and routed to a storage facility for future use. To be eligible for credit, rainwater harvesting systems must include not only the cistern, but also a reliable means of using or releasing the captured stormwater e.g., dedicated use.
|
| Disconnected Impervious Surface |
Disconnected impervious surface is the practice of directing stormwater runoff from a built-upon area to properly sized, sloped and vegetated pervious surfaces for treatment via infiltration and filtration. Both roofs and paved areas can be disconnected with slightly differing designs.
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