Virginia Beach City Council Approves Stormwater Fee Ordinance, Residents to See Increases on Utility Bills from January 2027

Virginia Beach City Council passed the Stormwater Utility Fee Adjustment Ordinance at its July 7 meeting by a 7-4 vote. The measure raises the base monthly fee from $12.50 to $15.75 for single-family homes starting with January 2027 utility statements. Commercial properties will see proportional increases based on impervious surface area.

Why the change arrives now

The ordinance responds to a 2025 engineering assessment that identified $48 million in needed repairs to aging drainage systems in the city's northern and southern sectors. Federal infrastructure funds cover only part of the cost, leaving the city to generate the remainder through local fees rather than general revenue. City budget documents project the new rates will produce $2.3 million in additional annual revenue beginning in fiscal year 2027.

Residents in areas such as Kempsville and Sandbridge will notice the adjustment on the same bill that covers water and sewer service. Households that already pay the current fee will experience an automatic $3.25 increase without any separate enrollment step. Property owners with larger driveways or rooftops can request a site inspection to confirm their exact rate tier before the first billing cycle.

Payment schedule and next steps

The city will mail updated rate notices with December 2026 utility statements. Payments remain due on the same 20-day cycle used for water service. City staff will hold three public workshops in October at the Municipal Center to explain how the revenue will be allocated to specific pipe replacement projects listed in the 2025 assessment.

Analysts with the city's Department of Public Utilities state that the first visible construction contracts are expected to be awarded in spring 2027, with work beginning in the highest-priority flood zones by summer. No changes to trash collection or other services are tied to this fee adjustment.