Are front foot benefit charges required to be paid annually?
Yes. The right to recapture the costs of the installation of sewer and water lines serving each new home, is described in a declaraion document recorded in the land records. Delinquent nonpayment of the annually required front foot benefit charge can result in a lien being recorded against the property, similar to what can occur upon nonpayment of homeowners association dues.
What is a front foot benefit charge?
Defeerred Water and Sewer Charges are also referred to as Water and Sewer Facilities Assessments or Front Foot Benefit Charges (FFBCs).
Why are these charges applied?
Historically, water companies or local county governments in Maryland installed sewer and water lines in new residential subdivisions. The installing entity recaptured the cost of the installed construction costs by charging a Front Foot Benefit Charge (FFBC) on an annual basis, over a number of years.
More recently, developers have been required to take over the traditional role of installing new sewer and water lines in subdivisions. The developer or its utility company installs required water and sewer lines, and then recaptures the installation costs over a set number of years by annual front foot benefit charges. The installed sewer and water lines are dedicated to a public water and sewer authority which maintains the sewer and water lines. This mirrors the same structure that was previously used by county governments when county governments installed the sewer and water lines and then collected front foot benefit charges on an annual basis from the homeowner.
What methods of payment are available?
Payment can be made by check, or by paying online on this website. Payments made by check should be made payable to Metropolitan Utility, LLC and mailed to:
Metropolitan Utility, LLC PO Box 8127 Fleming Island, FL 32006