WPRF Credit Program

Eligible property owners in Anne Arundel County have the opportunity to reduce their Watershed Protection and Restoration Fee (WPRF) assessments by up to 50% for proactive and sustainable uses of stormwater runoff controls. The WPRF Credit Program Policy and Guidance document for Anne Arundel County provides the Department of Public Works the framework and procedures needed to administer the program.

In addition, the BWPR established the WPRF Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement to provide credit to single-family property owners that have installed small-scale (e.g., under 5,000 Sq.ft land disturbance) stormwater BMP’s on their property.  For questions about the WPRF Credit Program contact us at 410-222-7536. 

The Program's Goals

• Recognize the significant stormwater control investments already made by certain property owners.
• Encourage practices that proactively and sustainably manage runoff on private property.
• Support the Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration goal to minimize the impact of land development on water resources.

• Application Forms
  All applications must be submitted to the Department of Public Works by October 1 of the taxable year.  

   

  • Non-Residential and Multi-Family Property
  • Single Family Residential Property
  • WPRF Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement
  • Non-Residential Property with NPDES Permit
  • Inspection and Maintenance Checklist Form

  All applications must be sent to:

   

  Attn: WPRF Credit Program
  Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works
  Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration
  2662 Riva Road, MS 7310
  Annapolis, Maryland 21401
• Eligible Property Owners
  • Owners of Multi-Family Property
  • Owners of Non-Residential Property
  • Owners of Residential Property with an Inspection/Maintenance Agreement for Private Stormwater Management executed after 2002.
  • Owners of Property with an executed WPRF Stormwater Remediation Fee Credit Agreement executed after July 2016.
• Credit Application Requirements

  Residential with Inspection/Maintenance Agreement OR WPRF Credit Agreement	Non-Residential/Multi-Family
  Must represent a single parcel.	Can represent single parcel or multiple parcels.
  Must be identified by parcel and tax account number.	Must be identified by parcel and tax account number.
  Application must be submitted for WPRF credit.1	Application must be submitted for WPRF credit.1
  All supporting documents (Photo’s of each BMP, map of BMP(s) location, Stormwater BMP Summary Sheet, County Approval of BMP if available, Appropriate Checklists, Inspection and Maintenance Agreement, etc.) must be attached to application.	A SWM Practices Summary Sheet and all necessary supporting documentation (County-approved BMP, SWM Report, As-built Plans, Appropriate Checklists, Inspection and Maintenance Reports, etc.) must be attached to application

  ^{1 Properties with an NPDES permit and stormwater management practices (marinas, industrial properties, etc.) should apply for recertification by the end of the second of the three year period.  Form can be found here.}

   

  Please ensure the following information is included with your application:
  
  Completed Application Form
  Stormwater BMP Summary Sheet
  Photos of BMP and Drainage Area
  Executed Inspection and Maintenance Agreement OR
  WPRF Credit Agreement

   

  The credit application deadline for all taxable years is October 1.

   

  Applications packages must be sent to:

   

  Attn: WPRF Credit Program

  Anne Arundel County Department of Public Works

  Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration

  2662 Riva Road, MS 7310

  Annapolis, Maryland 21401
• Maximum Credits
  • The maximum available WPRF Credit by state law is 50%.
  • The maximum credit will only be approved if entire impervious surface of a property is treated using one or more of the eligible runoff control practices or activities under the stormwater policy.
  • Applicant must document that eligible practices were designed and/or retrofitted, approved, constructed, inspected, and maintained in accordance with both or one of the following:
    • County Standards, Stormwater Management Practices and Procedures Manual
    • 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II, and Supplements

  WPRF credits are applicable for three years provided the associated runoff controls are operated and maintained in accordance with the most recent credit application.
• Partial Credit
  • Partial credit is available for portions of the total impervious surface treated with one or more of the eligible runoff control practices or activities under the stormwater policy.
  • Owners must demonstrate and compute the amount of the impervious surface treated using eligible runoff practices compared to the property's overall impervious surface area. 
  • Fractional amount of treated to overal impervious surface of a property is multiplied by 50% (maximum allowable credit).
  • Credit Calculation:
    • (Treated Impervious ÷ Total Impervious) x Program's Maximum Allowable Credit = Fee Reduction %.
  • Examples:

  Non-Residential and Multi-Family
  Example	Total Impervious  (Acres)	Treated Impervious  (Acres)	Credit Calculation	Credit Reduction
  Commercial Development	10	7.5	(7.5/10) x 0.5 = 0.375	37.5%
  1985 Retrofit Industrial Complex	50	25	(25/50) x 0.5 = 0.25	25%

   

  Residential w/Inspection and Maintenance Agreement for Private SWM
  Example	Total Impervious (sq. ft.)	Treated Impervious (sq. ft.)	Credit Calculation	Credit Reduction
  1/2 Acre Lot	2,940	2,205	(2,205/2,940) x 0.5 = 0.375	37.5%
  5 Acre Lot	10,000	5,000	(5,000/10,000) x 0.5 = 0.25	25%

• Renewal of Credit

  Approved credits are valid for three years.  After three years, to continue to receive credit, functional verification of the BMP(s) is required by the end of the second year.  Practices must be functioning as designed, operated, and maintained in accordance with the most recent credit application.  
  
  Only NPDES Permit holders are required to complete a renewal application.

  All initial applications and any re-submittals must be mailed to:

  Anne Arundel County DPW
  Bureau of Watershed Protection and Restoration
  MS 7301
  2662 Riva Road
  Annapolis, MD 21401
• Inspection of BMPs Associated with Approved Credit
  It is an owner's responsibility to inspect and repair their practices to ensure that they are functioning as designed and detailed in the approved credit application. In addition, the County reserves the right to inspect, at any time, stormwater management practices applied toward receiving a credit. Those inspections will be in accordance with an executed Inspection and Maintenance Agreement for Private Stormwater Management or WPRF Credit Agreement.

   

  Complete inspection information is available in the Stormwater Fee Credit Program Policy and Guidance document for Anne Arundel County.  
• Enforcement
  Inspections and documentation are the primary methods employed to monitor approved credits.

   

  Failure to maintain and operate the stormwater management practice in strict compliance with County Approved Plans, Maintenance Agreements, WPRF Credit Agreement, County Standards, Stormwater Management Practices and Procedures Manual, and/or the 2000 Maryland Stormwater Design Manual, Volumes I and II, and Supplements will result in the loss of the credit.