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Environmental Rules in Coral Gables, FL (2026)

5 verified environmental rules for Coral Gables, Florida, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Stormwater Management

Coral Gables imposes a mandatory stormwater management utility fee on every developed property in the city, priced by impervious area, to fund the city's drainage system.

Coral Gables Stormwater Utility Fee

Some Restrictions

Sec. 78-232; Sec. 78-233(e); Sec. 78-234(d)

The commission hereby authorizes the imposition of utility fees on all property within the city. ... Undeveloped parcels shall be exempted from the utility fee. ... All fees, late charges, and said interest accruing thereupon... which remain unpaid 60 days after the past due date... shall constitute a special assessment lien equal in rank and dignity with the liens of city ad valorem taxes.

Erosion Control

Coral Gables bars construction runoff, erosion, and sediment from reaching stormwater drains, canals, and waterways, with escalating fines up to $15,000 for repeat or irreparable violations.

Coral Gables Erosion & Sediment Control Rules

Significant Restrictions

Sec. 86-3(b)

It shall be unlawful for any property owner or entity performing construction activities to cause, let, allow, discard, permit or suffer runoff, erosion and sedimentation into any stormwater drains, inlets, catch basins, curbs and gutters, retention or detention ponds, swales, manholes, junction boxes, culverts, freshwater lakes, waterways or other related components, designed to convey stormwa...

Flood Zones

Coral Gables requires a floodplain development permit before any construction, filling, or grading in a FEMA-mapped flood hazard area, administered by the city's floodplain administrator under Chapter 113.

Coral Gables Flood Zone Development Permit Rules

Significant Restrictions

Sec. 113-4(a)

Any owner or owner's authorized agent (hereinafter "applicant") who intends to undertake any development activity within the scope of this chapter, including buildings, structures, and facilities exempt from the Florida Building Code, which is wholly within or partially within any flood hazard area shall first make application to the Floodplain Administrator, and the Building Official if applic...

Boat Dock Permits

Coral Gables caps private docks on Biscayne Bay at 25 feet and requires a development services permit before any dock, mooring pile, or dolphin goes in.

Coral Gables Boat Dock Permit Rules

Some Restrictions

Sec. 109-64, Sec. 109-65, Sec. 109-66

No dock shall extend more than 25 feet from the property line into Biscayne Bay. (Code 1958, § 7-16; Code 1991, § 14-88; Code 2006, § 109-64; Ord. No. 760, § 2, 10-21-1952; Ord. No. 2023, § 1, 7-24-1973) Sec. 109-65. - Same—Mooring piles. Mooring piles or dolphins shall be set not more than 20 feet into the bay from the dock line. (Code 1958, § 7-19; Code 1991, § 14-89; Code 2006, § 1...

Flood Elevation Requirements

Coral Gables bars any variance letting a building's lowest floor sit below the mapped base flood elevation, with critical facilities held to an even higher elevation standard under Chapter 113.

Coral Gables Base Flood Elevation Rules

Some Restrictions

Sec. 113-7(c), Coral Gables Code of Ordinances

The construction regulation board shall not grant variances to allow buildings to have the lowest floor, or level of dry floodproofing, lower than the base flood elevation shown on the FIRM.

Looking for Miami-Dade County county-wide rules?

County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Coral Gables city rules.

Environmental Rules in Miami-Dade County