Florida
Florida Department of Environmental Protection
Quick Summary
For most Florida projects disturbing 1 acre or more, you need both a state NPDES Construction General Permit and an Environmental Resource Permit from your regional Water Management District. A SWPPP is also required.
Construction Permit
Permit Document ↗- Permit Name
- Generic Permit for Stormwater Discharge from Large and Small Construction Activities
- Threshold
- ≥ 1 acre of land disturbance (or < 1 acre if part of a larger common plan)
- NOI Lead Time
- NOI must be submitted at least 2 business days before construction begins
- Application Method
- Online via FDEP's ePermitting system (www.fldepportal.com)
- Fee
- $400 for projects < 5 acres; $600 for ≥ 5 acres; additional fees may apply for ERP
- Permit Expires
- November 30, 2027
SWPPP Requirements
Permit Document ↗- SWPPP Required
- Yes
- PE Cert Required
- No
- Template Available
- Yes
Inspection Requirements
Permit Document ↗- Frequency
- At least every 7 days and within 24 hours of a storm event producing ≥ 0.5 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period
- Rain Trigger
- Within 24 hours of a storm event producing ≥ 0.5 inches of rainfall in a 24-hour period
- Inspector Qualification
- Stormwater Pollution Prevention Inspector — no specific state certification required, but must be trained and knowledgeable in stormwater BMPs
- Accepted Certifications
- No state-specific mandatory cert; CPESC, CESSWI recognized by FDEP; FDEP-recognized stormwater inspector training accepted; licensed PE/PG qualifies for SWPPP preparation
Discharge Standards
Permit Document ↗- Turbidity Limit
- Discharges must not cause turbidity in receiving waters to exceed 29 NTU above background in Class III waters
Post-Construction
FDEP ↗- Required
- Yes
Impaired Waterbody / TMDL Requirements
Elevated RiskFlorida's construction stormwater requirements are primarily implemented through state Environmental Resource Permits (ERP), not the federal NPDES CGP. Projects near Outstanding Florida Waters (OFW) face the most stringent ERP standards — discharges may not degrade water quality and a formal anti-degradation demonstration is required. Projects near impaired water bodies designated in Priority Focus Areas may face additional ERP conditions or mitigation requirements.
Program Contact
Contact Page ↗- Phone
- (850) 245-7522
State-Specific Notes
Florida is unique in having a dual-permit system: the FDEP Generic Permit (stormwater) AND the Water Management District ERP (stormwater and flooding/floodplain). Both may apply to the same project. Projects in wetlands face additional scrutiny.
Local Jurisdictions
Additional city and county requirements beyond the state permit
City of Miami
City
Submit to: City of Miami Department of Building / South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
Detention: Required
Impervious limit: No citywide cap; stormwater treatment required for…
City of Jacksonville (Duval County)
City
Submit to: City of Jacksonville Environmental Quality Division (EQD) / St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD)
Detention: Required
Impervious limit: No citywide cap; stormwater treatment required for…
City of Tampa
City
Submit to: City of Tampa Stormwater Department / Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD)
Detention: Required
Impervious limit: No citywide cap; stormwater treatment required per…