The most important criteria a community garden must meet are:
1. the property’s principal use is for growing plants,
2. a community group operates the garden for public benefit, and
3. stormwater is sustainably managed on at least 80% of the property.

On July 20, 2016, community garden representatives requested that the Water Department initiate a proceeding before the Rate Board to consider the stormwater charge exemption. The Water Department’s current filing with the Rate Board is to initiate the Board’s review and determination of the special discounted rate for approved community gardens.

A financial analysis has determined that a 100% stormwater rate discount to known community gardens for the current rate period which began on July 1, 2016 and ends June 30, 2018 would result in lost revenue to the Philadelphia Water Department estimated to be $46,490 in FY2017 and $48,374 in FY2018, for a total of $94,864 over the current Rate Period.

If a full stormwater charge exemption is granted to community gardens, the revenue loss to the Water Department is small enough that all other existing rates and charges will not increase for the remainder of the current Rate Period. This means that no other customer will pay more for water, sewer and storm water service if the community garden exemption is granted.