---
title: Portsmouth Studies a Stormwater Fee Based on Pavement, Not Property Value | WOW Portsmouth
description: Portsmouth hired Raftelis to study a Stormwater Enterprise Utility that would charge fees based on impervious surface. Public outreach comes before any decision.
image: https://blog.evvnt.com/hubfs/wow-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-stormwater-utility-study-1200x675.jpeg
---

[Skip to content](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-stormwater-utility-study#main-content)

[![Evvnt](https://blog.evvnt.com/hubfs/Evvnt_Rework_Final-01%20(1)-2.svg "Evvnt")](http://www.evvnt.com)

Search

# Portsmouth Studies a Stormwater Fee Based on Pavement, Not Property Value

[J.A.R.V.I.S .](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/author/jarvis) Oct 12, 2026, 5:07:59 PM

![Brick buildings along Market Street in Portsmouth](https://blog.evvnt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wow-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-stormwater-utility-study-1200x675.jpeg?width=1200&height=675&name=portsmouth-stormwater-utility-study-1200x675.jpeg)

Who should pay for the rain that runs off Portsmouth's roofs and parking lots? The city is taking a fresh look.

The city has hired Raftelis Financial Consultants to evaluate whether to create a dedicated Stormwater Enterprise Utility, according to a City of Portsmouth release published by Patch.

Stormwater is now paid for equally by the General Fund and Sewer Funds. Single-family homes make up about 70% of properties but only about 15% of the paved and hard surfaces that create runoff. A utility would charge property owners based on their impervious surface, such as roofs, driveways and pavement.

No decision has been made. Before the City Council votes, the city plans stakeholder interviews, an online survey and possibly open houses, plus a web app where owners can see their impervious area and estimate a fee.

**Source:** Patch (City of Portsmouth release). [Read the original article](https://patch.com/new-hampshire/portsmouth-nh/city-portsmouth-evaluates-stormwater-funding-options).

**Looking for something fun to do?** [See what's on in Portsmouth this weekend on EVVNT](https://evvnt.com/events/?towns=Portsmouth).

*Photo: ["Market Street, Portsmouth New Hampshire (30415728141)"](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Market_Street,_Portsmouth_New_Hampshire_(30415728141).jpg) by Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. Cropped and resized from the original.*

[Portsmouth](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/tag/portsmouth)

[← All posts from the **EVVNT** blog](https://blog.evvnt.com/news)

## Read On

[![A smiling family enjoying time together outdoors in warm autumn light](https://blog.evvnt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wow-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-fall-family-fun-fest-1200x675.jpeg?width=352&name=portsmouth-fall-family-fun-fest-1200x675.jpeg)](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-fall-family-fun-fest)

### [Costumes Encouraged: Portsmouth Rec's Fall Family Fun Fest Is Free on Oct. 24](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-fall-family-fun-fest)

S'mores fire pit. Food trucks. Music. Games. Costumes encouraged. Portsmouth Rec just published...

[![A lively outdoor music festival crowd under string lights and daytime sky](https://blog.evvnt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wow-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-westival-10th-anniversary-1200x675.jpeg?width=352&name=portsmouth-westival-10th-anniversary-1200x675.jpeg)](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-westival-10th-anniversary)

### [Westival Turns 10: Portsmouth's West End Threw a Free Block Party for Gather](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-westival-10th-anniversary)

Ten years of West End gratitude. One free Saturday. And every dollar raised pointed toward Gather....

[![Carved jack-o-lanterns on a porch](https://blog.evvnt.com/hs-fs/hubfs/wow-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-trick-or-treat-hocus-pocus-1200x675.jpeg?width=352&name=portsmouth-trick-or-treat-hocus-pocus-1200x675.jpeg)](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-trick-or-treat-hocus-pocus)

### [Portsmouth Sets Trick-or-Treat Hours, and the Library Is Showing Hocus Pocus This Thursday](https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-trick-or-treat-hocus-pocus)

Mark the calendar: candy runs Friday, Oct. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m.

© 2026 Evvnt. All rights reserved. 

[Terms & conditions](https://evvnt.com/terms/) | [Privacy policy](https://evvnt.com/terms/privacy/)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "J.A.R.V.I.S .",
    "url" : "https://blog.evvnt.com/news/author/jarvis"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2026-10-12T21:07:59.232Z",
  "datePublished" : "2026-10-12T21:07:59.000Z",
  "headline" : "Portsmouth Studies a Stormwater Fee Based on Pavement, Not Property Value | WOW Portsmouth",
  "image" : [ "https://blog.evvnt.com/hubfs/wow-news/portsmouth/portsmouth-stormwater-utility-study-1200x675.jpeg" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blog.evvnt.com/news/portsmouth-stormwater-utility-study",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blog.evvnt.com/hubfs/Evvnt_Rework_Final-01%20(1)-2.svg"
    },
    "name" : "Evvnt Inc"
  }
}
```