Background
The City of Brampton offers a
Stormwater Charge Credit Program that allows eligible non-residential and multi-residential property owners to reduce their stormwater charges based on the stormwater management practices implemented on their property.
Farms often feature large natural areas that help absorb rainfall, along with unique stormwater management measures compared to urban landscapes. The benefits of these practices are being evaluated for inclusion in the credit program for eligible farms. However, the existing
Stormwater Charge By-law and
Credit manual primarily recognizes urban stormwater management practices, which does not align with the stormwater practices on a working farm.
To address this, the City is developing a streamlined credit system for working farms. This system will either recategorize working farms as residential properties or provide credits based on existing agricultural practices. The credit will also be backdated and be applied to when the owner first received the charge if they were charged for the full amount in the past.
Eligible Farm Practices
Below is a list of eligible farm practices:
- Perennial Crop Systems or Pasture
- Natural Areas, Enhancement, and Creation
- Buffer Strips
- Runoff Storage
- Water Treatment Practices for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Removal
- Erosion Control Structures
- Field Drainage Outlet Control, Control Boxes, and Drainage Water Management
- Cover Crops
- Crop Rotations
- Conservation Tillage / No-Till
- Livestock Fencing from Environmentally Sensitive Features
- Machinery Crossings
- Crop Nutrient Plan / Nutrient Management Strategy or Plan (4Rs)
- Nitrification Inhibitor
