Compare Regulations
Compare state baseline against local requirements in a single view
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Compare state baseline against local requirements in a single view
Rows with an amber indicator differ across selections.
| Field | State Florida FDEP | Local City of Tampa City of Tampa Stormwater Department / Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) |
|---|---|---|
| Permit | ||
| Permit / Authorization | Generic Permit for Stormwater Discharge from Large and Small Construction Activities | Site Development Permit with Stormwater Compliance / SWFWMD ERP |
| Submit To | FDEP | City of Tampa Stormwater Department / Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) |
| Lead Time | NOI must be submitted at least 2 business days before construction begins | City stormwater review 2–4 weeks; SWFWMD ERP review 4–8 weeks for individual permits |
| Application Method | Online via FDEP's ePermitting system (www.fldepportal.com) | City permits via Tampa Development & Growth Management; SWFWMD ERP via ePermitting portal |
| Fee | $400 for projects < 5 acres; $600 for ≥ 5 acres; additional fees may apply for ERP | City site development permit fees vary; SWFWMD ERP fee $500–$8,000+ |
| Water Quality | ||
| Impervious Cover Limit | No statewide limit | No citywide cap; stormwater treatment required per SWFWMD ERP for projects exceeding thresholds (> 4,000 sq ft impervious or > 2 acres total area) |
| On-Site Treatment Required | Not specified at state level | Yes |
| Detention Required | Not specified at state level | Yes — Pre- vs. post-development discharge rate matching for 25-year/24-hour storm; water quality: treat first 1 inch of runoff per SWFWMD; wet detention ponds are the most common BMP |
| Turbidity / Discharge Standard | Discharges must not cause turbidity in receiving waters to exceed 29 NTU above background in Class III waters | Must comply with FDEP Generic Permit and Florida surface water quality standards; Hillsborough Bay and Tampa Bay protections apply |
| SWPPP | ||
| SWPPP / Local Plan Required | Yes | Yes — Erosion and Sediment Control Plan per City Code Chapter 26; Stormwater Management Plan per SWFWMD ERP |
| PE Stamp Required | No | Yes |
| Inspections | ||
| Inspection Requirements | At least every 7 days and within 24 hours of a storm event producing ≥ 0.5 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period | City stormwater inspectors conduct construction-phase inspections. SWFWMD conducts ERP compliance inspections. Post-construction systems require maintenance entity and annual inspection records. |
| Inspector Qualification | Stormwater Pollution Prevention Inspector — no specific state certification required, but must be trained and knowledgeable in stormwater BMPs | No state-specific certification required; CPESC/CESSWI recognized |
| Design & Zones | ||
| Local Design Manual | N/A — state level | SWFWMD Environmental Resource Permit Applicant's Handbook Volume II |
| Special Overlay Zones | N/A — see local jurisdictions | Tampa Bay / Hillsborough Bay, Hillsborough River Watershed |