Bonita Springs, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

The Bonita Springs City Council enacted Article III of Chapter 44 through Ordinance No. 15-04 on 2-4-2015, and Sec. 44-42 titles it the City of Bonita Springs Stormwater Conveyance Maintenance Ordinance. Sec. 44-43 applies it to all private property within the corporate boundaries and states that it does not replace land development code section 3-420 or relieve an owner of existing duties to maintain drainage. Sec. 44-44 defines a stormwater conveyance system as a drainage ditch or swale, pond, inlet structure, outlet structure or pipe located within a drainage easement or other private property and used for transporting stormwater runoff.

Excessive vegetation means unmanaged growth that impedes or is likely to impede normal stormwater flow, and the public works department finds it when at least 50 percent of the surface area is overgrown. The definition excludes the understory of protected hammocks and managed vegetation within wetlands and stormwater retention pond littoral zones. Private lands exclude property owned by federal or state governments, Lee County, the City of Bonita Springs or any other governmental agency, including community development districts. Sec. 44-41 records the council findings that neglected ditches, blocked pipes and swales impede flow and harm adjacent and upstream properties.

Under Sec. 44-46(a), the public works director or designee refers each case to the code enforcement department. Chapter 48 separately sets up the city stormwater utility, with a stormwater service assessment roll and a stormwater improvement assessment roll approved by annual council resolution.