Storm Water Management Parcel Tax
Last updated: April 14, 2026 3:40 pm
The City of Castlegar has renewed the Storm Water Management Parcel Tax for three years, with no changes to the current rate or structure.
Financial Services
What You Need to Know
A parcel tax is a flat fee applied equally to each property, regardless of size or value.
What this means for you:
- The parcel tax remains $150 per property, per year
- It continues to fund the City’s stormwater system
- No changes are being made at this time
Why is this important?
The parcel tax supports ongoing maintenance, upgrades, and long-term planning for the City’s stormwater system.
Stormwater infrastructure manages rain and runoff through systems such as catch basins (storm drains), underground pipes, ditches and drainage channels. Over the past 10 years, parcel tax funding has supported:
- Stormwater upgrades as part of major projects, including Columbia Avenue Phase 1 and Phase 2
- Ongoing maintenance and repairs to drainage systems throughout the city
- Planning and assessment work to identify future infrastructure needs
Funds are also placed into reserves to prepare for major infrastructure projects, helping reduce the need for borrowing.
Why is the parcel tax being renewed?
The original parcel tax, introduced in 2016, reached its maximum 10-year term and must now be renewed to continue funding this essential service.
A three-year renewal allows the City time to:
- Review how stormwater services are funded
- Explore options that may better reflect property size or impact
- Avoid repeating the bylaw process more than necessary
If a new approach is approved sooner, it can be implemented before the three-year period ends and replace the parcel tax.
Will the parcel tax go away?
The current funding model may change and replace the parcel tax in the future. While the approach may change, the need to fund the stormwater system will remain.
What happens next?
Over the next three years, the City will:
- Evaluate alternative funding models
- Share clear information with the community
- Support opportunities for public understanding and input