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Board adopts DEQ‑mandated stormwater fee increases effective July 1, 2026
Summary
Gloucester County approved an ordinance updating local stormwater permit fees to align with a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality mandate that raises baseline fees and shifts a larger share of program costs to permittees; staff cited citation 9VAC25‑875 during the presentation.
Gloucester County supervisors unanimously adopted an ordinance June 2 to revise local stormwater permit fees in response to a Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) mandate effective July 1, 2026.
Kevin Landry, environmental programs manager, told the board the state required local permit fees be reset to fund roughly 60–62% of program implementation, up from a historical funding level of about 38–39%. Landry said the change raises baseline fees across categories — for example, the smallest commercial permit category rises from $290 to $450 and top-tier commercial permits can increase to about $14,300 — and noted the statutory authority in the enabling legislation (9VAC25‑875).
Landry also explained the fee‑sharing split with the state will shift incrementally (localities will retain a slightly smaller percentage as permit levels rise) and that DEQ will apply annual CPI adjustments; the county will return any further automatic increases to the board for approval.
With no speakers during the public hearing, the board moved, seconded and passed the ordinance on roll call. The change takes effect July 1, 2026; staff said fee increases primarily affect commercial and large construction projects, while many single‑family residential permit costs remain unchanged.
