- Home
- Customer Service
- Rates
Rates
Ross Valley Sanitary District collects a Sewer Service Charge from each property connected to its sewer system. This charge is included on your annual property tax bill, which is collected by Marin County and reflected on your Property Tax Statements.
NBS handles all rates and discounts on behalf of RVSD. If you have any questions, contact NBS at 1-800-676-7516 or email by clicking here Version OptionsRatesHeadline.
View the tabs below to learn more.
Click the image to see the current rate schedule enlarged. 
Note: Not all Larkspur properties pay the Larkspur Rate. Properties north of Corte Madera Creek (e.g., Greenbrae, Drake’s Landing) and in Riviera Circle pay the Ross Valley Rate. For these properties, a portion of their property tax supports RVSD's capital program.
- Rate Overview
- Rate Assistance Program
- Residential Rates
- Commercial Rates
- Refunds
- Frequently Asked Questions
A well-maintained sewer system is crucial for preventing wastewater overflows, promptly addressing customer needs, coordinating with other utilities, and keeping pollution out of our creeks and the Bay. This essential service protects public health, the environment, and enhances our quality of life.
RVSD funds its operations through a Sewer Service Charge applied to each property connected to its sewer system. This charge, which appears on property tax bills issued by Marin County, supports the maintenance and operation of 206 miles of sewer pipes and 19 pump stations that manage four million gallons of wastewater daily.
Although your sewer fee appears as a single charge on your tax bill, it funds two distinct organizations: Ross Valley Sanitary District, which maintains the collection system that transports wastewater to the treatment plant, and Central Marin Sanitation Agency, which treats wastewater before pumping it into the San Francisco Bay.
The average age of the pipes in RVSD's collection system is 54 years old, with over 45% installed prior to 1955. In the last three years, capital funding has helped RVSD complete more than $75 million in infrastructure improvements for sewer and pump station rehabilitation, resulting in an improved sewer system with fewer stormwater-related overflows.
Every five years, a third-party Sewer Rate Study updates the rate structure to ensure it fairly and equitably recovers costs, aligns with industry practices and legal requirements, and provides fiscal stability for RVSD. The rate schedule is designed to strengthen our sewer system’s resilience and environmental compliance. By investing in state-of-the-art upgrades and rigorous maintenance, we extend the lifespan of our sewer system and minimize the risk of sewer spills.
On May 22, 2024, the RVSD Board of Directors held a Public Hearing and adopted the new Sewer Service Charges shown above.
- To learn more about the ordinance enacting wastewater utility service charges, read Ordinance No. 102.
- To learn more about the 2024 sewer rate study, read the Sewer Rate Study Final Report.
- To view the Sewer Rate Study PowerPoint, visit the March 2024 Rate Study PowerPoint.
RVSD offers a 25% discount on annual service charges for eligible customers. NBS handles all program applications, discounts, and rates on behalf of RVSD. Submit your complete application directly to NBS. Applications sent to RVSD will not be processed.
To determine your eligibility and apply, download the appropriate application below:
- 2025-26 Application for Residents
- 2025-26 Application for Low-Income Housing Developments Applications Applications: Applications: Applications: Applications: Applications: Applicatio
Submit your application to NBS via:
- Mail: RVSD c/o NBS, 32605 Temecula Parkway, Suite 100 Temecula, CA 92592
- Email: You can submit your application via email to NBS by clicking here. Submit your application to NBS via: Submit to NBS: Submit to NBS: Submit to NBS: Submit to NBS: Submit to NBS: Submit to NBS: .
Note: The discount will be applied as a 25% reduction to your regular sewer service charge, which is billed on your property tax bill.
For questions about the program or your rates, call NBS at 1-800-676-7516.
Residential properties are assigned an Equivalent Dwelling Unit (EDU) based upon the actual dwelling units (living units) permitted on the property, regardless of occupancy, as determined by the Marin County Assessor Office records. The rate schedule is assessed every five years. The last rate schedule was adopted in 2024. In June 2019 the Board adopted rated that recognized the difference in average water usage between single-family and multi-family residences and applied a difference per EDU rate for each. The 2024 rate study carried this distinction forward. Condominiums are included in the multi-family classification.
Ross Valley Rate Zone - Fiscal Year 2024/25
- $1,114 per equivalent dwelling unit for properties designated as Multi Family Residential or as Condominiums, Town homes, and Co-Ops (County Use Code 14).
- $1,238 per equivalent dwelling unit for properties designated as Single Family Residential.
Larkspur Rate Zone - Fiscal Year 2024/25
- $1,596 per equivalent dwelling unit for properties designated as Multi Family Residential or as Condominiums, Town homes, and Co-Ops (County Use Code 14).
- $1,773 per equivalent dwelling unit for properties designated as Single Family Residential.
Commercial properties are charged the sewer service fee based upon actual winter water usage as reported by Marin Municipal Water District (MMWD) for the billing cycle ended in either January or February of the prior year. The calculation utilizes and average gallon per day for residential usage to convert the MMWD usage into EDUs.
The rate schedule is assessed every five years. The last rate schedule was adopted in 2024.
Commercial Rates
Low-Strength
- Ross Valley (FY 2024/25) - $1,238
- Larkspur Rate (FY 2024/25) - $1,773
High-Strength
- Ross Valley (FY 2024/25) - $2,897
- Larkspur Rate (FY 2024/25) - $4,149
If you believe that you have been billed incorrectly for the Sewer Service Charge, you may request a refund within three years of the date of the charge in question. View the refund request form by clicking the link.
To learn more about Sewer Service Charges and view a map showing the District’s two rate zones, click here Version Options Rates Headline.