What if your garden could lower your monthly drainage bill? If you own a home in Brentwood, you pay a City of Austin stormwater fee on your utility bill. You care about saving money and caring for your property, and you want clear steps that actually work. In this guide, you’ll learn how rain gardens, cisterns, and other on‑site solutions can qualify for stormwater fee credits, what to confirm with the city, and how to estimate potential savings. Let’s dive in.
Austin’s drainage fee at a glance
The City of Austin bills a drainage or stormwater fee as part of your utility account. This fee funds public stormwater infrastructure and services. In general, the amount you pay relates to how much impervious surface is on your lot, such as roof, driveway, and patios. To see how your fee is calculated for your specific home, review your Austin utility bill or contact Watershed Protection or Austin Water.
How rainwater credits reduce your bill
Cities encourage private property owners to reduce runoff that enters the public system. When you install a qualifying practice that captures, detains, infiltrates, or reuses stormwater on site, you may receive a credit that lowers your monthly drainage fee. The more runoff your system manages effectively, the larger your potential credit.
Rain gardens and bioretention
A rain garden captures runoff from a defined area, often a section of roof or a driveway. Water soaks into amended soils and is taken up by plants. When designed to city standards and sized to the contributing area, a rain garden reduces the effective impervious area that sends runoff to city drains.
Cisterns and rain barrels
Cisterns and rain barrels store roof runoff for later use in irrigation or other non‑potable needs. Proper sizing, overflow, and plumbing help reduce both peak runoff and total volume. Many programs recognize storage and reuse as a qualifying way to reduce demand on the public system.
Permeable paving and infiltration systems
Permeable pavers and infiltration trenches replace or supplement hard surfaces so water can infiltrate. These systems can lower the net impervious area or treat runoff from nearby hardscape. On compact urban lots, pairing permeable pavers with a small rain garden or cistern can be an efficient approach.
Combining practices for better results
You can pair a cistern with a rain garden to manage both volume and infiltration. A hybrid approach often qualifies for a larger credit because it captures more runoff and treats it in multiple ways.
Who qualifies in Brentwood
Your property must be inside Austin city limits and on a city utility account. The practice must treat a specific portion of your impervious area, such as a mapped section of roof. Most programs require that the installation meet design standards, include a maintenance plan, and have clear overflow routes. The city may inspect your system before granting a credit and may re‑inspect later to confirm performance.
What to confirm with the City of Austin
Every credit program is specific. Before you design or build, confirm the details directly with Watershed Protection or Austin Water.
- Ask how credits are calculated. Some programs reduce the assessed impervious area. Others apply a percentage discount to your current drainage charge.
- Ask about caps or tiers. There may be a limit on total credit per account or different percentages based on system type and size.
- Clarify performance thresholds. You may need to retain a minimum depth of rainfall, show a specific storage volume, or meet planting and soil standards.
- Review documentation requirements. Typical submittals include a site plan, sizing calculations, photos, product specifications, and a maintenance agreement.
Brentwood design tips that matter
Brentwood has modest‑sized lots and mature trees, so routing one or two downspouts to a small rain garden can be very effective. Central Austin soils vary, and some sites have clay that limits infiltration. If your soil drains slowly, consider a cistern for capture and reuse or a design that detains and releases water in a controlled way. Space can be tight on urban lots, so compact solutions like downspout gardens, rain chains that feed planters, or roof‑integrated tanks can fit better than large basins. Also check any neighborhood overlay rules or HOA guidance that could affect visible tanks or grading changes.
Costs, payback, and upkeep
Rain gardens often cost from a few hundred dollars to a few thousand, depending on size and whether you hire a contractor. Cisterns range from a few hundred dollars for small barrels to several thousand for 500 to 2,000 gallon systems that include pumps and plumbing. Monthly drainage credits help offset upfront costs, and you may also save on irrigation if you use stored rainwater. For example, a 40 dollar monthly drainage credit equals 480 dollars per year, which can contribute meaningfully to your return on investment. Plan for routine maintenance such as removing debris, caring for plants, checking inlets and outlets, and confirming that overflow works as designed. Many programs require that you keep a maintenance log and agree to inspections.
How credits are calculated
Cities commonly use one of two methods. Under an area‑based approach, your fee is reduced in proportion to the impervious area that your system effectively treats. Under a tiered or percentage approach, the city assigns a credit such as 10, 20, or 40 percent based on the type and performance of your practice. In both cases, the city will set minimum sizes, documentation, and any credit caps. Always verify which method applies in Austin before you build.
Example savings for Brentwood homes
The following examples are for illustration only. Use your actual Austin utility bill and the city’s current rules to calculate your savings.
Property A, small Brentwood bungalow
- Total impervious area is about 2,000 square feet. A new rain garden is designed to treat runoff from 800 square feet of roof. If the city uses an area‑based method and the sample rate is 5 cents per square foot per month, the credit could be about 40 dollars per month. If the city uses a percentage credit and grants 20 percent on a 60 dollar drainage charge, the monthly credit would be about 12 dollars.
Property B, larger lot
- Total impervious area is about 3,500 square feet. A 500 gallon cistern is sized and used so the city credits 1,200 square feet of treated runoff. Using the same sample rate, the area‑based credit could be about 60 dollars per month. If the city uses a 30 percent tier and the monthly drainage fee is 100 dollars, the credit would be about 30 dollars per month.
Key takeaway: the way Austin calculates credits will determine your savings. If your system treats a large share of your impervious area, area‑based methods can yield larger dollar credits. If the city uses a percentage schedule, the size and performance of your system will determine your credit tier.
What you need to submit
While Austin sets the final list, most applications include the following items:
- A simple site plan or map that shows impervious areas and the area draining to your practice.
- Sizing calculations that match your design to the roof or paved area you plan to treat. A qualified professional often prepares these.
- Photos of the completed installation and product specifications for tanks or specialized components.
- A maintenance plan that identifies tasks and frequencies. Some cities require a recorded maintenance agreement tied to the property.
- A city inspection before the credit starts, with follow‑up inspections as needed.
Step‑by‑step checklist
Use this quick process to move forward with confidence in Brentwood.
- Verify billing and fee method
- Confirm that you are billed by the City of Austin for the drainage fee. Note your current monthly charge and how the fee is calculated on your bill.
- Confirm eligibility and rules
- Contact Watershed Protection or Austin Water to confirm eligible practices, the credit method, any caps, and the exact documentation you will need.
- Evaluate your site
- Sketch your roof and paved areas and note where downspouts discharge. If you plan infiltration, consider a simple soil test. A brief consult with a landscape architect or stormwater contractor can save time.
- Finalize your design
- Route runoff from a defined area to your rain garden, cistern, or permeable system. Prepare the sizing calculations and a clear site plan that match the city’s standards.
- Apply and schedule inspection
- Complete the city application, submit your documents, and arrange inspections. Sign any required maintenance agreement.
- Maintain and document
- Keep the system working with routine care, and retain photos and maintenance logs for re‑inspection when the city requests them.
Tips for sellers in Brentwood
If you plan to sell, documented rainwater practices can support a clear, sustainability‑minded story for buyers. Provide your site plan, photos, maintenance records, and any city approval letters during listing. This helps buyers understand operating costs and how to keep the system performing. If you are early in your planning, talk with your real estate advisor about timing so your installation, inspection, and documentation are complete before going to market.
How a local advisor can help
You do not need to become a stormwater engineer to benefit. A neighborhood‑focused agent can help you map next steps, coordinate the right local pros, and align your project with your timeline to buy or sell. You will still confirm technical details with the City of Austin, but you will have a clear plan that fits your goals.
Ready to explore options and see how these improvements fit your broader home plans in Brentwood? Get your instant home valuation and connect with a trusted local guide at Unknown Company.
FAQs
What is the Austin drainage fee for Brentwood homeowners?
- The City of Austin bills a drainage or stormwater fee on your utility account, generally based on impervious area or a similar metric, and you can confirm the exact method and amount on your bill.
Which rainwater practices usually qualify for credits in Austin?
- Common options include rain gardens or bioretention, cisterns or rain barrels for capture and reuse, permeable paving, and infiltration trenches, subject to city rules and design standards.
How do cities calculate stormwater credits for homeowners?
- Many use either an area‑based reduction tied to the impervious area you treat or a tiered percentage discount based on the type and performance of your system, sometimes with credit caps.
Do I need inspections or a maintenance agreement for credits?
- Cities often require an inspection before granting credits and may require periodic re‑inspection plus a maintenance plan or recorded maintenance agreement tied to the property.
What if my Brentwood soil does not infiltrate well?
- If infiltration is limited, a cistern for capture and reuse or a design that detains and releases water slowly may be more practical than infiltration‑only systems.
How much can I save each month with a rain garden or cistern?
- Savings depend on Austin’s current rate and credit method, but illustrative examples show potential credits ranging from about 12 to 60 dollars per month using sample math, so verify with your actual bill and the city’s rules.
