Florida State Overview

In 2000, the state of Florida and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) received authorization from the EPA to develop and implement their own NPDES stormwater permitting program. The Florida NPDES Stormwater Program regulates point source discharges of pollutants and stormwater into the surface waters of the State of Florida from construction, industrial and Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s). As per the Florida NPDES Stormwater Program, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for communicating rules and regulations, issuing general permits, managing and reviewing general permit applications and performing stormwater management compliance and enforcement initiatives.

The Florida NPDES Stormwater Program, mandates that the “operator,” or “owner” of the project site is attains coverage under the General Permit for Stormwater Discharge from Large and Small Construction Activities before any land disturbing activities can commence. “Large Construction Activities” are defined as a project site that disturbs and/or clears five (5) or more acres of land while “Small Construction Activities” are defined as a project site that disturbs less than five (5) acres of land. An operator of a project site must also apply for general permit coverage if his/her site will disturb less than one (1) acre, but part of a larger common plan of development or sale, that will ultimately disturb one (1) or more acres.