Proposed Stormwater Drainage Utility Fee

The Victoria City Council is considering a stormwater drainage utility fee to support improvements to Victoria’s stormwater drainage.

The City of Victoria does not have a dedicated funding source for drainage projects, which means that we must rely on other funding sources for our drainage system. This limits the amount of drainage projects and maintenance that we are able to complete.

The stormwater drainage utility fee would create a dedicated funding source for drainage while leaving other funds available for other projects. Stormwater drainage utility fees are used by many other Texas cities as a reliable method for funding drainage needs.

The proposed fee would allow for more robust funding in the following areas:

• General maintenance: mowing drainage ditches, culvert clearing/repairs, storm drain cleaning
• Capital projects: improvements at key outfalls and drainage channels citywide
• Emergency response: quick removal of blockages and localized flooding issues

The City Council will vote on the proposed drainage fee at the March 3 and 17 City Council meetings. If approved, the drainage fee will go into effect in April 2026.

Learn more about the proposed stormwater drainage utility fee: Frequently Asked Questions

What will my drainage fee be?

The City is proposing a flat fee of $5 for all residential utility bills. Other properties (commercial, apartments, etc.) will be billed based on each property’s impervious area, which are surfaces that do not absorb water, such as roofs, driveways, and pavement.

• Residential = $5.00 per month
  • This category applies to single-family houses and to residential buildings accommodating four or fewer families, such as duplexes.
• Other = Impervious Square Feet ÷ 3,200 × $5.00
  • This category applies to businesses, apartment complexes* and other non-exempt properties** that are not included in the Residential category.

*If you live in an apartment, the fee will be billed to the property owner(s), not the tenants.

**State agencies, Victoria ISD properties, college/university campuses and unimproved lots are exempt from the fee.

Find your property's impervious area

View the interactive map.

Only properties using the impervious area calculation (in the "Other" category above) are included.

The map is a work in progress. Some discrepancies may be possible.

Read the proposed ordinances

• Ordinance establishing stormwater drainage utility (draft version)
• Ordinance adopting drainage utility fee schedule (draft version)

Presentations to City Council

• Public Hearing on Establishing a Stormwater Drainage Utility and Drainage Utility Fee - Feb. 3, 2026
• Stormwater Drainage Study Update: Drainage Fee – Sept. 26, 2025
• Stormwater Drainage Study Update: Capital Needs – March 14, 2025

Full meetings and agendas can be viewed at www.victoriatx.gov/tv15.

Additional resources

• Final Report: Development of a New Stormwater Utility and Drainage Rate Structure
• Stormwater Utility Trends in Texas
• City of Victoria stormwater management program

Contact us

If you have questions about the proposed stormwater drainage utility or the associated fee, please let us know using this form.