Who must pay a drainage fee in Seattle? Who is exempt?
The City charges a drainage fee on most properties in the City, including those which are exempt from paying property tax such as churches. Seattle’s drainage system is a City-wide utility. All properties contribute to the problem of runoff and benefit from the drainage system through flood control and improvement of water quality. The only properties which are exempt from drainage charges are submerged land, houseboats, piers, City streets, State of Washington highways, and other streets that provide drainage services in the same manner as City streets.
