The Board of Assessment Appeals application form for the Spring session must be submitted to the Assessor’s office no later than 4:30 PM on February 20th, (or March 20th if an extension is granted for the filing of the Grand List).

For the motor vehicle appeals in September, please refer to the appeal form available in early August form for more information.

Yes. Appeal form for real estate and personal property (on the Grand List of the current assessment year), and motor vehicle (on the supplemental list of the prior assessment year) will be available online and in the lobby of the Stamford Government Center between February 1st and February 20th (if an extension is granted for the filing of the Grand List, this changes to March 1st and March 20th respectively). 

Appeal form for motor vehicle (on the Grand List of the current assessment year) will be available online and in the lobby of the Stamford Government Center in early August.

Please refer to the appeal forms for the application deadlines.

Appeal form and supporting documents may be faxed, emailed, dropped off in the lobby of the Stamford Government Center or mailed to:

Board of Assessment Appeals
888 Washington Blvd., 6th Floor
Stamford, CT 06901

Fax Number: (203) 977-5553

Email: BAAStamford@stamfordct.gov

Please refer to the appeal form or click here for submission deadlines.

Tell the Board why you believe the assessed value of your Real Estate as of the assessment date is incorrect. Give the Board evidence that will indicate a different value is appropriate, based on the last revaluation date.

The hearing is not a forum to discuss the City budget or taxes.

Tell the Board why you believe the assessed value of your motor vehicle as of the assessment date is incorrect. Give the Board evidence that will indicate a different value is appropriate based on the assessment date.

The hearing is not a forum to discuss the City budget or taxes.

The type of evidence necessary for an appeal varies depending on what a property owner deems to be the cause of the “erroneous” assessment. In the past, property owners have presented appraisals, photographs, copies of deeds denoting easements or restrictions, as well as data on comparable properties in their neighborhoods. Please keep in mind that all values are based on the last revaluation date. All appraisals and/or comps should be based on the time period leading up to that date.

The type of evidence necessary for an appeal varies depending on what a property owner deems to be the cause of the "erroneous" assessment. In the past, property owners have presented photographs, bill of sales or proof of mileage. Any documentation dated after October of the prior year will not be considered.

After hearing an appeal, the Board has the authority to increase, decrease, or make no change in your assessment. Applicants will be notified within a week of the Board's decision and will include notice of the next course of appeal, if desired.

Appellants who feel aggrieved by the Board or are dissatisfied with their decisions may appeal to the Superior Court in their jurisdiction to hear the case within 60 days of notice date.

As provided by the Connecticut General Statute Sec. 12-117a: "Any person, including any lessee of real property who is bound under terms of his lease to pay real estate taxes, claiming to be aggrieved by the action of the Board of Assessment Appeals, may, within two months of the date of the mailing of the notice of action, make application, in the nature of an appeal of the assessment list year commencing October 1 of the Grand List Year, to the Stamford Superior Court, which shall be accompanied by a citation to the city to appear before said court."

In order to file a Complaint, you must complete the official form entitled “Complaint to the Board of Ethics.” This form can be found by clicking the link labeled "Complaint to the Board of Ethics" on the left hand side of the Board of Ethics webpage. Letters or other submissions not on the official form may be rejected. The completed original Complaint must be sent to:

Allan Lang, Chair, Board of Ethics
City of Stamford Human Resources Dept.
P.O. Box 10152
Stamford, CT 06904-2152

The Chair shall appoint a three (3) member Investigating Board pursuant to the Code of Ethics. See Code of Ethics §19-14 for additional information regarding the procedures.

The current chair of the Board of Ethics is Allan Lang, who can be reached by e-mail at alang@stamfordct.gov.

The Board of Ethics usually meets at 7:00 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month in the Stamford Government Center. Regular meetings are open to the public. Meeting times and locations are subject to change, and additional meetings are scheduled as needed. Check the Board of Ethics home page under “Agendas” for specifics on up-coming meetings.

All Requests for Advisory Opinion must be in writing and sent to the Chair of the Board of Ethics. The Request must contain your name, contact information, and the details of your request. You will be notified of the time and location of the meeting where the Request will be considered by the Board. You should plan to attend the meeting to answer any questions the Board may have. The Board will issue a written Advisory Opinion, a copy of which will be filed with the Town Clerk.

The Board holds regular meetings on the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m., unless changed by resolution. Additionally, the Mayor or any two members may call a special meeting to handle urgent business in between regular meetings.

Meetings are held in the Board of Finance Meeting Room on the 4th Floor of the Stamford Government Center. Meetings are open to the public and include a brief period of time for public comment on any issue on the meeting agenda.

If a property serviced by the Stamford WPCA is being sold, the SWPCA MUST be notified in order to receive the pro-rated balance to pay account in full and update the new information of the buyer.

Homeowners: your attorney MUST obtain a pro-rated balance and may receive a future cycle bill that is based on the prior owner's usage.

Attorneys: contact the SWPCA Billing Dept at 1-888-263-5047 or email StamfordWPCA@stamfordct.gov to obtain a pro-rated amount to be paid at the closing.

Claims must be sent to:

Lyda Ruijter
City and Town Clerk
Government Center
888 Washington Boulevard
Stamford, CT 06901

The sewer user charge is based on your water usage for the six month period of November through April. The water company provides the Water Pollution Control Authority with actual water usage for all properties in Stamford. The charge is based on the "winter usage" to avoid charging for heavier summer uses such as watering your lawn and garden, washing your car, or filling your pool, which do not impact the treatment system. If a property has a well usage bills are based on the residential average for sewer use in lieu of water usage readings.

The current user charge rate is $5.33/CCF.

The user charge rate is reviewed and voted upon annually at the August or September WPCA Board Meeting. The rate set at the August/September meeting typically applies to the upcoming October and the following April billing periods (unless a mid-year user charge increase is approved by the Board).

Stamford User Charge History (rate/CCF):

• July 1 2022-June 30 2023: $5.33
• July 1 2021-June 30 2022: $5.26
• July 1 2020-June 30 2021: $5.16 
• July 1 2019-June 30 2020: $5.00
• July 1 2018-June 30 2019: $5.00
• July 1 2017-June 30 2018: $4.88
• July 1 2016-June 30 2017: $4.72
• July 1 2015-June 30 2016: $4.64
• July 1 2014-June 30 2015: $4.55
• July 1 2013-June 30 2014: $4.40
• January 1 2013-June 30 2013: $4.21
• July 1 2012-December 31 2012: $3.89
• July 1 2011-June 30 2012: $3.86
• July 1 2010-June 30 2011: $3.56
• July 1 2009-June 30 2010: $3.46
• July 1 2008-June 30 2009: $3.38
• July 1 2007-June 30 2008: $3.03
• July 1 2006-June 30 2007: $2.96
• July 1 2005-June 30 2006: $2.30
• July 1 2004-June 30 2005: $2.20
• July 1 2003-June 30 2004: $2.06

If you feel your water usage is wrong, contact the Aquarion Water Company at 800-732-9678.

For other questions about your bill, call the SWPCA Billing Dept at 1-888-263-5047 or SWPCA Customer Service at 203-977-5832.

• Repair dripping faucets
• Repair leaking toilets – leaks can be detected by using dye tablets
• Do not let the water run while brushing your teeth or washing dishes
• Take showers instead of baths
• Wash only full loads of laundry or dishes

If there is a balance due on the account, all you need to do is pay the balance in full. Once the account is paid in full, the SWPCA Billing Dept (contact number: 1-888-263-5047) sends notification and the appropriate paperwork to the Town Clerk’s Office to release the lien.

If the account is already paid in full, contact the Customer Services Specialist at 203-977-5832 or email StamfordWPCA@stamfordct.gov.

Please check to make sure that the correct sewer user account number is being used. If an incorrect account number is being used in an online payment system, the possibility of a misapplied payment or lost payment exists.

No.

No. Since the sewer user charge is a utility bill and not a tax, it is not deductible.

The sewer user charge for well customers is based on the average Stamford residential water usage. Well customers can install a water meter at their own expense if they wish to be billed for their actual usage.

No, almost every town/city in Connecticut has a user charge system, and is the most common charging system nationally.

The bill follows the property, not the homeowner. The bills are created based upon the winter period usage for the dwelling, not the homeowner.

The billing period refers to the interval of time you are being billed for. The read period is the interval of time that provides the water consumption used in the bill calculation.

If you feel your water usage is wrong, contact the Aquarion Water Company at 800-732-9678.

For other questions about your bill, call the SWPCA Billing Dept at 1-888-263-5047 or SWPCA Customer Service at 203-977-5832.

Call our SWPCA Billing Dept at 1-888-263-5047 if:

• Your name, address, or other information is incorrect
• You receive a sewer user charge bill for property you no longer own (Please give the new owner’s name if you know it.)
• You received a sewer user charge bill but you have a septic system and no ability to connect to the sanitary sewer

If you have any other questions, contact Customer Service at 203-977-5832 or email StamfordWPCA@StamfordCT.gov

You may pay your bill on-line using an e-check or credit card (fees will apply) using convenient on-line sewer use bill payment!

You may pay your bill by mail using a personal check, bank check, or money order (do not send cash). A special post office box is set-up to receive sewer user charge payments by mail. Effective April 1, 2015, mail payments to:

City of Stamford WPCA
P.O. Box 8063
Bridgeport, CT 06601-4063

Please write your account number on the check/money order.

You may pay your bill in person at the Stamford WPCA Customer Service Office at the Stamford Government Center on the 10th Floor, Mon-Fri 8:30AM-3:30PM

All sewer user charges shall be due and payable in full within 30 days of the date of the mailing of the bill to the customer. Any sewer user charge not paid in full within the aforementioned time period shall be deemed delinquent and shall bear interest at the rate and in the manner prescribed by the Connecticut General Statutes for property taxes.

If you believe you have already paid, please contact the SWPCA Billing Dept at 888-263-5047.

Bills are calculated based upon a six month winter period. The sewer user charge is for use over twelve months, therefore, the six month winter period is billed twice.

The WPCA bills twice per year, in April and in October.

All users of the sanitary sewer system, including all residential, commercial, government and nonprofit organizations are charged at the same rate. Under the user charge system, everyone who discharges wastewater to the sanitary sewer system pays their share of treating that wastewater regardless of their tax status.

There may be an increase in the user charge rate for the next year . The Board of Directors of the Stamford Water Pollution Control Authority will vote in August on the new rate. Please check this site for an update in September.