(A) For purposes of determining the fee, all real property in the city is classified as follows:
(1) Residential per TMS number;
(2) Vacant; and
(3) Commercial;
(B) Base rate. The base rate shall be $72 dollars annually. In no case shall a utility customer be billed a fee for less than one half the base rate.
(C) Equivalent Residential Unit (ERU).
The commonly accepted rate unit for stormwater utilities is the ERU. This is a descriptive value based on the land classification type and the amount of impervious surface. The ERU is used to relate a rate charged for a typical residential property and this becomes the common denominator by which commercial properties are evaluated. The ERU for Charleston County has been determined to be 3,000 square feet.
(D) Annual fees. Annual lees for all property shall be as follows:
(1) Residential property by TMS number. Single-family residential property shall be charged a fee equal to the base rate times one ERU, regardless of the size of the parcel or improvements (impervious area).
(2) Vacant property. Vacant property shall be charged a fee equal to the base rate times one half ERU regardless of the size of the parcel.
(3) Commercial property. Commercial property shall be charged the base rate multiplied by the numerical factor obtained by dividing the total impervious area of the property, as determined by the Director of Public Works or an authorized designee, by one ERU (3,000 square feet). The numerical factor will be rounded to the nearest tenth of a unit. The minimum fee for any commercial property shall be the base rate times one half ERU. Those commercial properties with impervious area greater than one-half ERU (1,500 square feet) and less than one ERU (3,000 square feet) shall be charged the base rate times one ERU.
(Ord. 22-07, passed 9-25-07; Am. Ord. 19-16, passed 7-12-16)