City of Aberdeen, MD Chapter A550 Fees

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Mayor and Council of the City of Aberdeen 4-11-2011 by Ord. No. 11-O-03[1]. Amendments noted where applicable.]

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also superseded former Ch. A550, Fees, adopted by the Commissioners of the Town of Aberdeen (now Mayor and Council of the City of Aberdeen) 6-26-1989 by Ord. No. 290 (Ch. A150 of the 1990 Code), as amended.

§ A550-1 Schedule of rates and charges.

The following fees, rates and charges shall apply in the City:

A. Water and sewers. The following rates and charges are established pursuant to Chapter 450, Sewers and Water, of the City's Code:

(1) Water use rate. These charges and rates shall be determined as part of the formulation of the annual Water Fund Budget and shall be set and adopted as part of the annual budget ordinance.

(2) Demand charges.

(a) Residential: five-eighths-inch to one-inch meter: $1.25 per quarter.

[Amended 9-25-2017 by Ord. No. 17-O-14]

(b) Commercial: the commercial demand charge shall be based upon the meter size:

	Size of Meter (inches)	Number of Units	Charge (per quarter)
	5/8 to 3/4	1	$11.00
	1	2.44	$26.84
	1 1/2	5	$55.00
	2	8	$88.00
	3	16	$176.00
	4	25	$275.00
	6	50	$550.00
	8	80	$880.00

(3) Sanitary sewer use rate. These charges and rates shall be determined as part of the formulation of the annual Sewer Fund Budget and shall be set and adopted as part of the annual budget ordinance.

(4) Nonresident user rates. The water and sewer use rate to customers out of the City limits shall be 150% of the prevailing use rate unless as otherwise approved by the Mayor and Council.

(5) Water area connection charge.

(a) Per equivalent dwelling unit: $10,500 where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and $9,000 where a building permit is issued thereafter.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

[1] Application

[a] Water area connection charges are assessed on all new development and redevelopment. A single-family dwelling is considered one equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) and shall be assessed at dwelling unit ( EDU) and shall be assessed at $10,500 where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and $9,000 where building permits are issued thereafter.

[b] An EDU is determined to be 250 gallons of water per day.

[c] The water area connection charge is broken down into four components:

[i] Water production;

[ii] Water storage;

[iii] Water distribution;

[iv] Engineering and administration.

[2] Water production component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for, or pay the debt service on, any project that increases the water production capacity of the City of Aberdeen, whether by using City-owned infrastructure or by purchasing water production capacity in another system from which the City will buy water. That component shall be assessed at 70% of the connection fee.

[3] Water storage component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for, or pay the debt service on, any project that increases the water storage capacity of the City of Aberdeen. That component shall be assessed at 20% of the connection fee.

[4] Water distribution component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for, or pay the debt service on, any project that increases the water distribution capacity of the overall water system of the City of Aberdeen. That component shall be assessed at 5% of the connection fee.

[5] Engineering and administrative component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for the periodic engineering studies needed to evaluate any present and future capacities and capabilities of the City of Aberdeen water system. That component shall be assessed at 5% of the connection fee.

(b) Hotels and motels: $1,800 where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and, for building permits issued thereafter, 50% of an equivalent dwelling unit per room (rental unit).

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(c) Commercial, business, industrial and other residential. The Director of Public Works, with the approval of the City Manager, shall develop and implement a method of calculating the daily water generation rates for all commercial, business, industrial, and other residential uses within the City. Each 250 gallons per day of water generation shall typically constitute an EDU, but surcharges can be established to cover water production peaking. The connection charge shall be assessed on such uses multiplying the number of EDUs, or fraction thereof, by the charge established in Subsection A(5)(a) of this section.

(d) Apartment units: $5,300 per apartment unit where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and, for building permits issued thereafter, 100% of an equivalent dwelling unit fee per apartment unit.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(6) Water meter charge.

(a) This charge is additional to the area connection charges. The City will furnish and install the water meter. The meter shall be owned and maintained by the City.

(b) The meter charge will include all costs accrued by the City, including the meter, any ancillary components, and any labor/installation charges, plus a charge of 15% of said cost for handling.

(c) Applicants will need to provide to the City, in writing, the size of meter required for a given project before said meter is ordered.

(d) Applicants will need to provide at least a thirty-day notice to the City to allow for ordering and receipt of meters.

(e) Meters will not be released, provided, or installed until all requisite fees and charges are paid to the City.

(7) Sanitary sewer area connection charge.

(a) Per equivalent dwelling unit: $5,400 where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and $8,500 where a building permit is issued thereafter.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

[1] Application.

[a] Fees are assessed on all new development and redevelopment. A single-family dwelling is considered one equivalent dwelling unit (EDU) and shall be assessed at $5,400 where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and $8,500 where a building permit is issued thereafter, as described in this section.

[b] An EDU is determined to be 250 gallons of sewage per day and shall be determined by the amount of water that is metered for the premise.

[c] The sanitary sewer area connection fee is broken down into three components:

[i] Sewage collection (including pump stations);

[ii] Sewage treatment;

[iii] Engineering and administration.

[2] Sewage collection component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for, or pay the debt service on, any project that increases the sewage collection capacity of the City of Aberdeen, or any project that deals with the reduction of inflow and infiltration into the sanitary sewer system. That component shall be assessed at 35% of the connection fee.

[3] Sewage treatment component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for, or pay the debt service on, any project that increases the sewage treatment capacity of the City of Aberdeen. That component shall be assessed at 60% of the connection fee.

[4] Engineering and administrative component calculation.

[a] The purpose of this component is to pay for the periodic engineering studies needed to evaluate any present and future capacities and capabilities of the City of Aberdeen sewer system. That component shall be assessed at 5% of the connection fee.

(b) Hotels and motels: $1,000 where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and, for building permits issued thereafter, 50% of an equivalent dwelling unit per room (rental unit).

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(c) Commercial, business, industrial and other residential. The Director of Public Works, with the approval of the City Manager, shall develop and implement a method of calculating the daily water generation rates for all commercial, business and industrial uses within he City. Each 250 gallons per day of water generation shall constitute an EDU. The connection charge shall be assessed on such uses multiplying the number of EDUs, or fraction thereof, by the charge established in Subsection A(7)(a) of this section.

(d) Apartment units: $2,700 per apartment unit where a building permit is issued on or before June 30, 2021, and, where building permits are issued thereafter, 100% of an equivalent dwelling unit fee per apartment unit.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(8) Capital improvement charges. Both the water and sewer capital improvement charges are included in the area connection charges. The current capital improvement charges are $750 for water and $750 for sewer.

(9) Responsibility for costs. The cost to furnish and install the water and sewer house service connection from the utility main line shall be borne by the property owner.

(10) Work done within rights-of-ways. House service work performed within public rights-of-ways shall be done by the City or by a Maryland-licensed utility contractor.

(11) Water service interruption.

(a) Residential customer: A fee of $50 per occurrence will be charged for interruption of service if payment arrangements have not been made.

(b) Commercial/industrial customer: a fee of $100 per occurrence will be charged for interruption of service if payment arrangements have not been made.

(c) Department of Public Works business hours are 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.; Monday through Friday; non-holiday. Restoration of water and sewer service made during nonbusiness hours shall be $95 for residential customers and $200 for nonresidential customers.

(12) Fees and penalties.

(a) Late charges: A penalty fee of 10% will be charged if not paid by the due date. Only cash or money order will be accepted for past-due accounts.

(b) Returned checks: A fee of $30 will be charged for returned checks.

(c) Fee charged for final readings: $30.

(d) Fee charged for checking the accuracy of a water meter and for leak detection: $20. There is no charge if first request within twelve-month period. The fee is waived if the meter is off by more than 5%, if a leak is found.

(e) Fee charged for service termination: $100.

(13) Responsibility for payment of water and sewage usage rates and charges shall be borne by the property owners. Failure of the tenants or lessees to make payment of water and sewage usage rates and charges shall not relieve the property owner from responsibility for payment.

(14) Hydrant fire flow tests.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(a) Hydrant fire flow tests conducted by an authorized agent for a contractor/developer will be billed at a rate of $300 for each specified location. This fee covers water usage and City staff support during the maintenance shop regular business hours. For hydrant flow test outside of shop regular business hours, a flat rate will be charged at 1.5 times the rate for tests conducted during regular business hours.

B. Construction. The following fees and charges are established pursuant to Chapter 210, Building Construction, of the City Code:

(1) Engineering review and construction inspection services. In-house engineering review: $100 per hour; outsourced engineering review: cost plus 15%; in-house inspections: $75 per hour; outsourced inspections: cost plus 15%.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(2) Building permit.

(a) Residential: $0.03 per square foot, minimum $100. For fences and sheds: $25. For fences over 250 linear feet, add $0.04 per linear foot.

(b) Commercial (new construction): $0.04 per square foot, minimum $150.

(c) Industrial (new construction): $0.06 per square foot, minimum $150.

(d) Addition, garage attached, garage detached, interior renovation, decks/porches, carport: $0.03 per square foot, $30 minimum.

(e) In-ground pool: $75.

(f) Mobile home: single-wide $55; double-wide $75.

(3) Sign permit. Sign permit fees shall be the following; these fees shall include building and zoning permits:

	Type	Fee
	Billboard	$100
	Marquee/awning	$30
	Freestanding	$60
	Face	$40
	Hanging	$40
	Roof	$40
	Temporary	$40

(4) Water and sewer service connections and new or expanded service connections. Service connection shall be based upon water meter size:

	Water Meter Size (inches)	Water Service Connection	Sewer Service Connection
	5/8 to 3/4	$550	$450
	1	$750	$550
	1 1/2	$950	$650
	2	$1,050	$700

(5) Erosion and sediment control.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13[1]]

(a) Erosion and sediment control agreement where plans are prepared but not submitted for review: $150 (greater than 500 square feet and less than or equal to 5,000 square feet).

(b) Standard erosion and sediment control agreement where erosion and sediment plans are submitted for review and approval: $250 (greater than 5,000 square feet to less than 30,000 square feet of disturbed area).

(c) Erosion and sediment grading agreement: shall be a minimum of $400 or 5% of the approved erosion and sediment control construction cost estimate, whichever is greater.

[1] Editor's Note: This ordinance also repealed former Subsection B(5), regarding private fire hydrant testing, and renumbered the subsequent subsections accordingly.

(6) Stop-work order: $100; $150 for second stop-work order if corrective action is not taken within 30 days of first stop-work order, $200 for third, and each successive stop-work order if corrective action is not taken on first stop-work order.

C. Annexation fees. Application fee upon submission: $1,000 minimum.

(1) The City Clerk shall coordinate an estimate of the costs that the City shall incur to process the annexation petition, including but not limited to, advertising costs, legal review fees, staff planning, and engineering review fees.

(2) The petitioner shall deposit with the City the amount of said estimate and will understand that such money shall be used at the City's discretion in relation to the review and process of the petitioner's annexation petition, annexation plan, and annexation agreement.

(3) Any unused portion of the estimated amount will be returned to the petitioner after the vote on the annexation resolution is taken. Any additional amount of money needed above the initial estimate to process the annexation shall be paid to the City before the date that the vote on the annexation resolution occurs.

D. Planning and zoning. The following fees, rates and charges are established pursuant to Chapter 235, Development Code, and Chapter 475, Subdivision of Land, of the City Code:

(1) Rezoning request: $1,000, plus publication and posting fee of $200, plus City Attorney fees.

(2) Zoning appeals.

[Amended 5-23-2016 by Ord. No. 16-O-14]

(a) (a)Variances: Filing fee of $200 for residential uses and $500 for nonresidential uses.

(b) Special exceptions: Filing fee of $500.

(c) Publication and posting fee: $100 in addition to the filing fee for variances and special exceptions.

(3) Interpretation of Development Code: $500, plus publication and posting fee of $100.

(4) Planning Commission review.

(a) Concept plan: $500.

(b) Site plan review: $500, plus $50 per residential unit; $500, plus $100 per commercial or industrial acre.

(c) Revisions to site plan review: $300, plus $25 per residential unit; $300, plus $50 per commercial or industrial acre.

(d) Subdivision review: $500, plus $50 per residential lot; $500, plus $50 per multifamily residential lot; $500, plus $100 per commercial or industrial acre.

(e) Revisions to subdivision review: $300, plus $50 per residential lot; $300, plus $50 per multifamily residential lot; $300, plus $100 per commercial or industrial acre.

(f) Review of planned unit developments, mixed-use developments, and integrated business district: $500, plus $50 per residential lot; $500, plus $100 per commercial or industrial acre.

(g) Traffic impact analysis review fee: $500.

[Added 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

(5) Copy of Development Code: $20; Zoning Map: $20.

(6) Copy of Subdivision Regulations: $10.

(7) Business use and occupancy certificate: $50 to assure compliance with the Aberdeen Development Code and with the State Fire Marshal's office.

(8) Demolition permits: $100 without a separate permit or $50 with a building permit to construct a new structure.

(9) Forest conservation and forest stand delineation plan review: $300.

(10) Temporary storage permit for vehicle: $100.

(11) Aberdeen Comprehensive Plan: $75.

E. Stormwater management. The permit fee established pursuant to Chapter 465, Stormwater Management, of the City Code shall be a minimum of $400 or 5% of construction cost, whichever is greater.

[Amended 10-12-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-13]

F. Miscellaneous fees. The following miscellaneous fees are established pursuant to the cited chapters of the City Code:

(1) Mobile home park license (Chapter 370, Mobile Home Parks): annual fee of $200.

(2) Parades (Chapter 402, Parades and Assemblies): $5.

(3) Peddlers and solicitors (Chapter 417, Peddling and Soliciting): $10 to $50.

(a) Sales of magazines, educational books, other nonreligious printed material: $10.

(b) Miscellaneous household items: $10.

(c) Seafood sales (along roadsides): $50.

(d) Fruit and vegetable vendors reselling purchased goods: $50.

(e) Ice cream vendors: $50.[2]

[2] Editor's Note: Former Subsection F(4), regarding taxicabs, and Subsection F(5), regarding bicycle registration, which immediately followed this subsection, were repealed 9-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-12.

G. County fees. Harford County fees shall be as applicable and as required.

H. Returned check fee: $30 for each occurrence.

I. Fees not described. The City Manager may establish reasonable fees for materials or services not described in this chapter.

J. Convenience transaction fees for electronic payments. The following are the transaction fees that may be charged for the convenience of electronic payment of property taxes and utility bills:

[Added 9-25-2017 by Ord. No. 17-O-14]

(1) Property taxes: 2.99% of the transaction amount for each electronic payment of a property tax bill or the amount of a transaction processing fee charged by a third-party vendor, whichever is less.

(2) Utilities: $7.50 for each electronic payment of a City utility bill or the amount of a transaction processing fee charged by a third-party vendor, whichever is less.

K. Development review fee escrow.

[Added 2-26-2018 by Ord. No. 18-O-03]

(1) The Director of Public Works may require a developer or other applicant to deposit into escrow with the City an amount equal to the estimated cumulative fees established under other provisions of this Code for the department’s concept, preliminary and final reviews of engineering plans for stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, roads and drainage, and water and sanitary sewer for a development project, and for inspections of installations made under those plans.

(2) The City may deduct from the escrowed amounts the costs of review and inspections under Subsection K(1).

(3) The Director may require a developer or applicant to replenish an escrow if the costs of reviews and inspections reduce the amount of the escrowed funds to an amount less than 25% of the funds deposited into the escrow.

(4) After all reviews and inspections have been completed and paid from escrowed funds, the City shall return to the developer or applicant all excess escrowed funds.

(5) A developer or applicant shall pay all review and inspection fees that are in excess of available escrowed funds.

L. Trash and recycling services fees. All owners and tenants of structures containing not more than three residential dwelling units within the City shall be required to comply with the fees under this subsection.

[Added 7-9-2018 by Ord. No. 18-O-19]

(1) Replacement trash or recycling container: $50 per container.

(2) Additional trash collection fee per container: $60 per container per fiscal year (nonprorated).

[Amended 9-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-14]

(3) Residential trash and garbage exceeding the capacity of the City's provided container or permitted container, with the lid closed, will be subject to bulk pickup fees.

[Amended 9-28-2020 by Ord. No. 20-O-14]

(4) Residential bulk pickup.

(a) Residential bulk pickup beyond one pickup per fiscal year shall be subjected to the following fees:

[1] Large appliance (i.e., mattresses, couches, dressers, sofas, stoves, refrigerators, etc.) up to three items per pickup: $20 per item.

[2] Small appliances that one person can easily pick up and load onto a truck and are less than 50 pounds each (chairs, tables, desks), approximately three to five items per pickup: $10 per pickup.

(b) The Department of Public Works shall assess contents within these categories to determine the fee for bulk items for disposal.

(5) Residential trash and recycling pickup outside the City limits:

(a) Trash and recycling collection pickup: $216 per year plus administrative fee of 15%.

(b) Trash and recycling container: initial issue $60 per container.

(c) Residential units in this category will also be subject to other fees described in this section.