Buying a Home in Clemmons? Look for the Stormwater Fee on Your Tax Bill

When you buy a home in Clemmons, the Forsyth County property tax bill carries a line that surprises many buyers: the village's stormwater utility fee.

Clemmons runs a stormwater management program under a federal EPA permit, and the village funds it with a fee based on how much of a property is covered by hard surfaces. Roofs, driveways, sidewalks and patios all count, because rain cannot soak through them. The village calls this impervious surface, and nearly every developed property has some.

The adopted fee schedule for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2026 lists four yearly tiers for single-family homes based on impervious square footage: $85.50 for up to 2,000 square feet, $90 for 2,001 to 4,000, $135 for 4,001 to 6,000, and $180 above that. The fee applies to tax-exempt properties like churches too, because the village treats it as a utility, like water or electric service, not a tax.

The fee arrives once a year as a separate charge on the Forsyth County property tax bill. Bills go out in August, payment is due September 1, and the fee is past due January 5, the same schedule as property taxes. Payment goes to the Forsyth County Tax Collector, not the village.

Before you buy, ask to see a recent tax bill so the fee is not a surprise, and look at the home's hard surfaces, since they set the tier. If a measurement ever looks wrong, the village's FAQ says an owner can appeal with a sealed survey from a North Carolina licensed surveyor.

Thinking about a home in Clemmons? We are glad to walk you through the costs that come with it, line by line.