The District of Columbia Impervious Area Charge (colloquially known as the “rain tax”) is being imposed upon owners of real property within the District. As it continues to expand, however, there are indications that it may be affecting certain consumers and communities inequitably.
Condominiums and homeowners associations often own shared common space, which allows for things like parking, green space, and community areas that would otherwise not be possible for many homeowners. However, despite being individual consumers who each pay their own share of the condominium fees and their respective utilities, they are often being billed at exorbitant rates that are imposed on them solely because of the style of building and community in which they live. Those higher rates are projected to rise, going as high as double their current rates in the next eight years.
Some condominium unit owners and homeowners are fighting back against what they see as an injustice. Communities such as Capitol Park IV Condominium are taking actions like protesting and appealing these bills, communicating with their legislators and representatives, and even filing lawsuits to stop the increase in rain tax charges that could potentially bankrupt their communities.