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Commission adopts changes to stormwater assessment code; clarifies condominium and unimproved land rules
Summary
Delray Beach commissioners approved Ordinance 14‑25, revising stormwater assessment definitions and methods to align with Florida non‑ad valorem assessment rules. Key changes include a standardized rate for unimproved land, new definitions for condominium common elements and a process for allocating common‑area charges to condominium units.
The Delray Beach City Commission adopted ordinance 14‑25 on second reading April 22, revising the city’s stormwater assessment code to clarify definitions and align charging methods with Florida non‑ad valorem assessment law.
Public Works Director Missy Barletta said the ordinance clarifies terms such as "condominium property," "condominium unit," "cooperative," "non‑assessed property" and "unimproved land." Under the revision, unimproved parcels with 500 square feet or less of impervious area are assigned a single stormwater unit, a change that reduced the assessed total for that class of parcels from the prior calculation.
The ordinance also changes how condominium common areas are assessed. Rather than charging a homeowners association for a common element, the code now apportions the cost of common elements to individual condominium units in the same condominium parcel and adds that charge to each unit’s stormwater assessment on the property tax roll—consistent with state statute guidance.
Barletta told commissioners the changes were requested to address issues flagged after the city moved from equivalent residential units to stormwater units in 2023, and to provide a clearer appeals process. She noted certain public agencies—Palm Beach County School Board, FDOT and the Lake Worth Drainage District—are exempt under state statute.
No members of the public spoke on the item during the hearing. Commissioners approved the ordinance on second reading by unanimous vote.
Next steps: the updated assessment methodology will be applied in the next billing cycle; staff said property owners will retain the right to appeal assessments through established administrative procedures.
