St. Petersburg, FL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Beyond the citywide Drainage and Surface Water Management Ordinance, St. Petersburg's subdivision regulations impose their own lot-specific grading requirements as part of platting a new subdivision. 6(9), 'Grading,' requires that lots be graded so all surface drainage complies with the City's stormwater management requirements, and that a grading plan showing the building site and proposed surface drainage be submitted to the engineering director. The construction site on the lot must sit at least one foot above the average grade crown of the road as set by the engineering director, and adequate swales must be provided anywhere filling would obstruct natural ground flow; in no case can the building site elevation fall below 103 feet City datum, though the engineering director or Development Review Commission may approve a lower elevation in older areas with existing sub-103-foot development.

On sandy fill areas awaiting development, the applicant must show the engineering director adequate erosion-prevention measures. 7, bars any land excavation, fill operation, or tree removal in a proposed subdivision until the preliminary plat is approved, and independently requires the owner to obtain an excavation permit from POD before any excavation, and to submit plans and specifications prepared by a registered engineer, who must supervise the work and certify compliance, before any landfill operation begins. 1 bars any work on required improvements from starting until plans are approved by the City and a work permit is obtained from POD.