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Florida Drainage & Stormwater Permit Services

Navigate Florida’s layered permitting landscape with confidence. We handle ERP permits, Water Management District coordination, SWPPP development, and multi-agency compliance — so you don’t have to. With a 100% permit approval rate across 1,000+ projects and deep experience with all 5 Florida Water Management Districts, our licensed professional engineers ensure your permits are prepared correctly and approved efficiently.

Licensed Professional Engineers 100% Permit Approval 1,000+ Projects All 67 Counties 5 WMDs

Drainage & Stormwater Permits We Manage

We prepare, submit, and manage every type of drainage and stormwater permit required in Florida — from Environmental Resource Permits to local building permits.

Environmental Resource Permits (ERPs)

Florida’s primary permit for projects affecting surface water, wetlands, or stormwater management. We prepare and manage ERP applications with SFWMD, SJRWMD, SWFWMD, SRWMD, and NWFWMD.

NPDES / Construction Generic Permit (CGP)

Required for construction sites disturbing 1 or more acres. We handle Notice of Intent filing, SWPPP development, and compliance documentation.

FDOT Drainage Connection Permits

For projects connecting to state road drainage infrastructure, we manage FDOT applications under Rule 14-86 F.A.C.

Site Plan Entitlements

Local zoning and site plan approvals with drainage components — we coordinate with county and city planning departments.

Building Permit Packages

Complete drainage documentation for building permit applications including PE-sealed plans, calculations, and supporting documents.

SWPPP Development

Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans with erosion control details, inspection schedules, spill prevention, and maintenance protocols.

Agencies We Work With Across Florida

Our licensed professional engineers coordinate with regulatory agencies at every level — from federal FEMA reviews to local building department submissions.

Water Management Districts

SFWMD, SJRWMD, SWFWMD, SRWMD, NWFWMD

All 5 Florida Water Management Districts

State Agencies

FDEP, FDOT

Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection & Transportation

Federal

FEMA

Floodplain analysis and map revisions

County Government

Public works, planning, and building departments

Across all 67 Florida counties

Special Districts

Miami-Dade RER/DERM

County-specific regulatory bodies

Our permit services support both residential drainage design and commercial stormwater management projects across all 67 Florida counties.

Our Permit Management Process

1
Phase 1

Application Preparation

  • PE-stamped engineering plans preparation
  • Stormwater calculations and drainage reports
  • Environmental assessment coordination (if required)
  • Complete application package assembly for each agency
2
Phase 2

Submission & Filing

  • Submit to appropriate agencies (WMD, county, FDEP)
  • NOI filing for NPDES/CGP (if applicable)
  • Fee management and tracking
  • Confirmation of receipt from all agencies
3
Phase 3

Agency Review & Response

  • Track review progress with each agency
  • Respond to Requests for Additional Information (RAIs)
  • Plan revisions and resubmission as needed
  • Public notice period management (if required)
4
Phase 4

Approval & Post-Permit

  • Obtain all required approvals
  • Construction support and SWPPP monitoring
  • Post-construction inspections (PE-sealed)
  • As-built documentation and permit closeout

We handle the entire permitting process — from the initial regulatory assessment through final approval and post-construction compliance.

Florida Drainage Permit Processing Times

Processing times depend on permit type and project complexity. These are typical ranges based on our experience across Florida.

Permit Type Typical Timeline
General/noticed ERP permits 30–60 days
Standard individual ERPs 60–120 days
Complex ERP (wetland impacts, multi-jurisdictional) 120–180+ days
NPDES/CGP (NOI filing) 14–30 days
Local building permits (drainage component) Varies by municipality

The biggest delays come from incomplete applications and Requests for Additional Information. Starting with a PE-prepared application significantly reduces processing time and rejection risk.

Florida Drainage Permit Fees

Government-imposed permit fees for common drainage and stormwater permits. These are separate from engineering service fees.

Fee Type Amount
CGP filing fee (1–5 acres) $250
CGP filing fee (5+ acres) $400
CGP renewal (every 5 years) Per original fee
Local permit fees Varies by jurisdiction
ERP application fees Per district schedule

These are government-imposed permit fees, separate from engineering service fees. Contact us for a complete project quote including engineering and permit costs.

Frequently Asked Questions

It depends on the scope of your project. Environmental Resource Permits (ERPs) are required for projects that alter surface water flow or create impervious surfaces beyond thresholds. NPDES stormwater permits are required for construction sites disturbing 1+ acre. Most counties and cities require drainage plans as part of building permit applications. Small residential projects may qualify for exemptions under Chapter 62-330.
An ERP is Florida’s primary permit for projects affecting surface water, wetlands, or stormwater management. Administered by FDEP and the five Water Management Districts, ERPs require demonstrating that stormwater runoff will not increase, water quality treatment meets state standards (80% total phosphorus, 55% total nitrogen removal), and no adverse impacts to wetlands. Processing times range from 30 to 180 days.
Florida stormwater is regulated at multiple levels: FDEP issues NPDES MS4 permits and oversees the statewide ERP program; 5 Water Management Districts (SFWMD, SJRWMD, SWFWMD, SRWMD, NWFWMD) administer ERPs in their jurisdictions; county and city governments may impose additional requirements; and the US EPA oversees federal Clean Water Act compliance.
General/noticed permits typically take 30–60 days. Standard individual ERPs take 60–120 days. Complex projects with wetland impacts or multi-jurisdictional review can take 120–180+ days. The biggest delays come from incomplete applications — a PE-prepared application with complete engineering calculations significantly reduces processing time.
Minor drainage maintenance (cleaning gutters, clearing debris, extending downspouts) generally does not require permits. However, permits are typically required for installing new drainage systems, adding impervious surfaces beyond local thresholds, any work affecting wetlands or floodplains, projects disturbing 1+ acre, and connecting to public storm drains.

Need a Drainage Permit in Florida?

We handle the entire permitting process — from application preparation to final approval. 100% permit approval rate across 1,000+ projects.

Licensed Professional Engineers | 100% Permit Approval | 5 Water Management Districts