Stormwater Rate Study

Stormwater is rainwater and melted snow that runs off buildings, driveways and other land surfaces. Under natural conditions, most runoff is either soaked up by plants and trees, absorbed into the ground or drains into ponds and creeks. Hard surfaces, such as parking lots, driveways and rooftops, prevent stormwater from naturally soaking into the ground or being absorbed by plants. Instead, stormwater builds up on the surface and flows into the City’s stormwater management system and then drains into our creeks, rivers and lakes.

Stormwater has several environmental and property impacts. Excess stormwater runoff that does not soak into the ground can pick up pollutants such as oil, pesticides, bacteria and trash before flowing into storm drains, drainage ditches and creeks. This water is not cleaned at a treatment plant before it flows into our creeks, rivers and lakes, which are sources of our drinking water. Runoff can also cause higher and faster water flow during storms, which can lead to flooding, erode creeks and rivers and bring waste and debris into the city’s waterbodies. This can negatively impact water quality and result in the reduction and loss of aquatic life and biodiversity.

Stormwater management involves controlling the quantity and quality of runoff that results from rainfall and snowmelt, addressing issues such as flooding, erosion and poor water quality. The City has more than 1,000 kilometres of stormwater pipes, more than 22,000 catch basins and more than 150 stormwater management ponds that help to protect the environment and prevent flooding. 

The City is conducting a Stormwater Rate Study to review the current rate structure to ensure it’s fair, equitable and financially sustainable for residents, businesses and property owners while achieving the necessary funding to provide reliable stormwater services as Vaughan continues to grow. Critical operating and infrastructure investments in this system are funded through the annual stormwater charge. The findings of the study will inform the funding model to ensure our stormwater system is properly financed, future-ready and can continue to safeguard the community, environment, property and water resources.

The City’s stormwater charge is a tiered runoff-based stormwater fee that categorizes properties into seven tiers: 

• small non-residential
• medium non-residential
• large non-residential
• agricultural/vacant
• low-density residential
• medium-density residential
• high-density residential

Each property tier is then charged based on their tier’s estimated stormwater runoff contribution.

The 2024 stormwater charges are provided below in accordance with By-law 224-2023 (PDF):

The charges are reviewed annually.

The Stormwater Rate Study will explore, analyze and evaluate modifications to the current rate structure and alternative rate structures. When developing various structures, different factors will be considered, including:

• Total surface area: the total area of a property, encompassing all land within its boundaries, including both pervious (soft) surfaces (e.g. lawns, gardens) and impervious (hard) surfaces (e.g. rooftops, driveways). The surface area is a critical factor in stormwater management, as it influences the volume of runoff generated during precipitation events.
• Impervious (hard) area: the portions of a property covered by materials that significantly impede water absorption into the soil. Examples include parking lots, driveways, rooftops and compacted gravel surfaces. Impervious areas prevent rainwater from naturally soaking into the ground, which can increase surface runoff.
• Property type: appropriately grouping properties based on typical uses, common characteristics and anticipated stormwater impacts. For example, residential properties typically feature gardens and lawns, while commercial properties have larger buildings and parking lots. Property type is the primary consideration in the City’s current tiered rate structure.     

The new options will be evaluated using the suggested following guiding principles:

• Comparability to industry benchmarks, including the rates and rate structures of similar municipalities. 
• Fairness and equity, including the degree to which the identified rate structure accurately reflects stormwater costs and impacts on the City’s infrastructure.
• Financial sustainability, including whether the identified rate structure will adequately and reliably meet Vaughan’s current and future stormwater funding requirements
• Citizen affordability, including assessing the financial impact on the average resident and property owners in Vaughan.
• Environmental benefits, including whether the identified structure may reduce negative environmental impacts and promote better stormwater practices. 

A rate structure will be recommended based on the findings of a technical evaluation as well as consideration of feedback from the public. The findings of the study will be presented at a future Committee of the Whole meeting for Council consideration.