Front Foot Benefit Charge or Fee

[Gregory Cox]

I have owned several single family homes throughout the United States. I have never heard of or encountered something called a Front Foot Benefit Charge (FFBC) until I moved to Anne Arundel county, Maryland.

This Front Foot Fee seems to go by several names such as Front Foot Benefit Charge or Assessment. But it all refers to the same thing. I actually backed out of a house deal because something just didn't smell right about this fee. It is not a tax, not a utility bill, not a one-time fee.

Additionally, it was not disclosed in the property listing. That appears to be a common practice. Of course it will be eventually disclosed to a buyer but that isn't the point. It needs to be in the listing because it's a significant expense which could exceed $20,000.

My question is – does anyone know what is the background history of this FFBC practice? I would like to know whose big idea was it ... when did it start... do other states do this?