Indianapolis stormwater fee

Prepared by the Celtic Rainwater Wiki editorial team · Created 9 November 2026 · Last checked 9 November 2026

Summary: Indianapolis bills a stormwater fee of $1.65 a month per base billing unit in 2026, with one unit for each 1,000 square feet (or part) of impervious area and a cap of 20 units for homes. Owner-occupants can apply for a credit of up to 25% for approved on-site practices^[1].

What is the stormwater fee?

The City of Indianapolis charges property owners a stormwater user fee to pay for its stormwater system, billed with property taxes. For 2026 the rate is $1.65 a month per base billing unit (BBU), according to the city’s Stormwater User Rate, Payment Options and Credit Manual^[1]. One BBU covers up to 1,000 square feet of impervious area, such as roofs, driveways and patios, and each additional 1,000-square-foot increment adds another BBU; residential properties are capped at 20 BBUs^[1]. The fee is set in the city’s Revised Code^[2].

What does that look like for a house?

These are worked examples at whole multiples of 1,000 square feet, not bills for real properties; how partial increments are counted is set out in the city’s manual. The city measures impervious area for each parcel; check your own property tax bill for the figure used^[1].

Can I lower the fee?

Yes, in some cases. The credit rules in the city code allow eligible owner-occupied residential properties to earn a credit of up to 25% of the fee for approved practices that hold or filter water on site, such as rain gardens, on-site storage or vegetated filter strips^[1][3]. An application is required. Rain barrels alone hold relatively little water compared with a storm’s runoff, so check the manual for what qualifies before buying anything with the credit in mind.

How does this relate to gutters?

Gutters and downspouts do not change your impervious area, so they do not change the fee. They do decide where roof water goes. Water sent to a lawn, rain garden or pop-up emitter soaks in partly; water piped to the street goes straight into the storm system. The city’s drainage permit rules govern larger changes to drainage on a property, such as new connections to public drainage^[4]. Ordinary downspout extensions and gutter work on a house do not need a building permit^[5].

Is this the same as the sewer bill?

No. The stormwater fee is a city charge for the storm system. Wastewater bills come from Citizens Energy Group for the sanitary sewer, and Citizens’ separate rules ban rainwater from that sewer^[6]. See downspouts and the sanitary sewer.

See also

• Rain barrels and reuse
• Location and hours
• Downspouts and the sanitary sewer
• Service area
• Drainage services

Common questions

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Stormwater User Rate, Payment Options and Credit Manual. City of Indianapolis (indy.gov). Accessed 9 November 2026.
2. ^ Revised Code, Chapter 131, Article IV, Division 2: Stormwater user fee (Sec. 131-422). Indianapolis-Marion County (Municode). Accessed 9 November 2026.
3. ^ Revised Code, Chapter 676: Stormwater Management District (credits, Sec. 676-303). Indianapolis-Marion County (Municode). Accessed 9 November 2026.
4. ^ Drainage Permits. City of Indianapolis (indy.gov). Accessed 9 November 2026.
5. ^ Homeowner’s Building Permit Guide (work exempt from permitting; local design criteria). City of Indianapolis and Marion County, Department of Business and Neighborhood Services. Accessed 9 November 2026.
6. ^ Our Wastewater Correct Connect Initiative. Citizens Energy Group. Accessed 9 November 2026.