In 1999, City Council established a Stormwater Utility Fund supported by an assessment for the typical residential property. The charge to large, multi-unit properties, as well as commercial and industrial properties, is based on the size of each property. It is also based on the amount of impervious area that does not absorb runoff, including asphalt and concrete areas, as well as structures.

The current residential rate is $36 per year.

The program generates more than $2-million per year for projects to prevent localized flooding and to address environmental issues related to stormwater runoff as mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)  National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Phase II Program (NPDES).

Melbourne received its initial NPDES Permit July 16, 2003, for 5 years. The permit established strategies for reducing pollutants in the City’s stormwater runoff and for improving water quality. The City is currently in the second cycle of the permit, valid until 2013.