Hialeah, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Fee basis
- ERU rate x dwelling units or impervious area
- Exempt property
- Agricultural land
- Late charge
- 10% added immediately when overdue
- Interest on unpaid balance
- 8% per year after 60 days
- Lien threshold
- Balance unpaid 60+ days
- Utility director
- City superintendent of streets
Summary
Hialeah runs its own Stormwater Utility, billing every developed residential and nonresidential parcel an ERU-based fee to fund citywide drainage systems. Miss the due date and a 10 percent late charge, 8 percent annual interest, and eventually a property lien can follow.
(a)The Hialeah Stormwater Utility is hereby authorized and directed to establish, charge and collect stormwater utility fees upon all residential developed property and all nonresidential developed property within the City of Hialeah, Florida, sufficient to plan, construct, operate and maintain stormwater management systems set forth in the local program required pursuant to F.S. § 403.0891(3). Such fees shall be in an amount set forth by the city council.(b)Each residential developed property shall be charged a stormwater utility fee calculated by multiplying the rate for one ERU by the number of the dwelling units on the parcel.
Full Breakdown
Article IV of chapter 42 creates the Hialeah Stormwater Utility (Sec. 0891(3). Sec. 42-134 authorizes the utility to charge every residential and nonresidential developed property a fee based on the ERU, or equivalent residential usage unit, the estimated average impervious area per dwelling unit citywide. A residential parcel's fee is the ERU rate multiplied by its number of dwelling units (Sec. 42-134(b)); a nonresidential parcel's fee is the ERU rate multiplied by the ratio of its actual impervious area to the citywide average residential ERU footprint (Sec.
42-134(c)); mixed-use parcels combine both calculations (Sec. 42-134(d)). Agricultural property is exempt from the fee entirely (Sec. 42-135(a)). Collection is aggressive: an unpaid bill draws a 10 percent late charge immediately, plus 8 percent annual interest starting 60 days after the due date (Sec. 42-136(a)). chapter 173 (Sec. 42-136(d), (e)). The city may skip filing a lien notice for balances under $50, leaving the amount as an ordinary debt instead (Sec. 42-136(g)).
Violations & Fines
Nonpayment triggers a 10 percent late charge on the original bill and 8 percent annual interest beginning 60 days after the due date; unpaid balances older than 60 days become a recorded lien against the property, enforceable through the Circuit Court of Miami-Dade County or foreclosure procedures under F.S. chapter 173 (Sec. 42-136).
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Hialeah calculate a residential stormwater fee?
Is any property exempt from Hialeah's stormwater utility fee?
What happens if I don't pay my Hialeah stormwater bill on time?
Who oversees the Hialeah Stormwater Utility?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Hialeah
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Miami-Dade County handle stormwater management.