The cost of complying with the Post-Construction Storm Water Ordinance depends on many factors. They include the watershed where the project is located, Town requirements for removal of certain pollutants from runoff, buffer requirements, proximity of the development to streams, requirements for controlling the volume and peak of storm water, types and size of BMPs that are constructed, and any open space requirements.

Before each Town and the Board of County Commissioners adopted its version of the Ordinance, Storm Water Services' staff conducted a Case Study Cost Analysis of eight sites: four residential and four commercial. The Case Study estimates what it might cost developers to comply with the Ordinance.

The estimated costs to comply with the ordinance for residential development ranged from $3,800 to $32,500 on a per acre basis, and ranged from $3,700 to $24,500 on a per lot basis. Average costs were estimated at $15,900 per acre and $10,200 per lot for residential development.

The estimated costs to comply with the ordinance for commercial/industrial development ranged from $0 to $25,200 on a per acre basis. Average cost of compliance was estimated at $10,000 per acre for commercial/industrial development.

Download the County/Towns' Post-Construction Case Study Analysis