ST. MICHAELS, MARYLAND — St. Michaels' new fee schedule is now in force, and it phases in higher permit fees for spring and summer commercial events and higher commercial water rates over three years.
Event organizers feel the change first. A commercial event permit in the spring-summer season, March 21 to Sept. 22, now costs $667 for up to 500 attendees and $5,667 for the top tier, which the schedule lists as 5,000+. Each of the seven attendance tiers carries a note phasing it in over fiscal years 2027 to 2029, to between $1,000 and $10,000. Fall rates run from $500 to $3,500. Winter events with up to 3,000 attendees pay nothing, and larger winter events pay $500 to $1,000. Organizers also pay any police protection costs for the event.
| Spring-summer attendance | Fee now | Phase-in to (FY27–FY29) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 500 | $667 | $1,000 |
| 501–1,000 | $1,167 | $2,000 |
| 1,001–2,000 | $1,667 | $3,000 |
| 2,001–3,000 | $2,333 | $4,000 |
| 3,001–4,000 | $3,000 | $5,000 |
| 4,001–5,000 | $4,167 | $7,500 |
| 5,000+ | $5,667 | $10,000 |
Spring-summer commercial event permit fees under the adopted Town of St. Michaels schedule.
A community event permit is $150, and a private event permit for a public park or town property is $250.
Businesses on town water get a phase-in too. In-town commercial accounts pay a quarterly minimum of $133.40 for the first 5,000 gallons and $4.55 for each 1,000 gallons over that, with a note phasing the commercial rate in to $6.82 over fiscal 2027 to 2029. Out-of-town commercial accounts pay $266.80 and $9.09, phasing in to $13.64. In-town households pay $66.70 and $3.41.
For visitors, the schedule also sets parking rates. The town's designated municipal lots charge $2 an hour Monday through Thursday and $4 an hour Friday through Sunday from March 21 to Dec. 21. Parking is free from Dec. 22 to March 20 and after 3 p.m. on Sundays, and on-street parking is free. Resident parking permits are free, as are permits for non-resident homeowners and for business owners and employees who live outside town.
Town boat slips rent for $756 a year, phasing in to $1,000 over fiscal 2027 to 2030. Licensed watermen pay $438, phasing in to $475. Paying a town bill by card online carries a 2.95% convenience charge. In person or by QR code the charge is 3%, and an ACH payment carries a flat $1.95.
The Commissioners passed Resolution No. 2026-06 on Oct. 28 by a 3-1 vote, according to the signed resolution posted on the town's website. Commissioners Hudson, Whittington and Wojciechowski voted yes. Commissioner Schury voted no, and Commissioner Roiter was absent. The resolution took effect on the date of adoption.
At their Oct. 14 working session, the Commissioners held the event-fee section out of the schedule they sent to the Oct. 28 vote and referred it to the town's Tourism Advisory Board. The board recommended Oct. 22 that the spring-summer increases be phased in over three years, and the schedule the Commissioners adopted Oct. 28 includes the event fees with those phase-in notes.
The Commissioners' next working and legislative session is Wednesday, Nov. 18, from 5 to 7 p.m., according to the town's meeting calendar.
Source: Town of St. Michaels
Drawn from public records; drafted with AI and edited by Peter Gorman before publication.
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