Fort Myers, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Prohibited
- Nonstormwater discharges to storm system
- Approval authority
- Stormwater utility director
- Minimum penalty
- $500 per offense
- Continuing violation
- Each day is separate offense
- Governing division
- Ch. 90, art. VI, div. 5
Summary
Fort Myers bars dumping or discharging any nonstormwater material, paint, oil, wastewater, pool backwash, into surface areas or the municipal storm sewer system without prior written approval from the stormwater utility director, backed by fines starting at $500 per offense.
Any dumping, spilling, or discharging of any nonstormwater material to any surface area or stormwater management system shall be prohibited, unless allowed by prior written approval from the stormwater utility director, or his designee. Prohibited illicit discharges shall require spill response, spill control, and spill cleanup as designated and prescribed by the stormwater utility director. Penalties for noncompliance shall be in accordance with section 90-296.(b)Illicit connections.(1)The construction, use, maintenance or continued existence of illicit connections to a storm drain system is prohibited.(2)This prohibition expressly includes, without limitation, illicit connections made in the past, regardless of whether the connection was permissible under laws or practices applicable or prevailing at the time of connection. (Code 1991, § 18-169; Ord. No. 2909, § 2, 8-17-1999)
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 60).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 90, Article VI, Division 5 of the Fort Myers Code of Ordinances prohibits dumping, spilling, or discharging any nonstormwater material into any surface area or the municipal stormwater management system unless the stormwater utility director gives prior written approval. Illicit connections that route wastewater or other nonstormwater flow into the storm drain system are also barred, even ones built before this rule existed. A violation draws a written notice from the stormwater utility director, who can order cleanup, spill response, and restoration of affected property. Section 90-296 sets a minimum $500 penalty per offense, adds cleanup and enforcement costs, and treats each day a violation continues as a separate offense. The rule covers the entire city, inside Fort Myers' corporate limits in Lee County, not the surrounding unincorporated county.
Violations & Fines
Minimum $500 penalty per offense under § 90-296, plus cleanup, remediation, and enforcement costs; each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
What counts as an illicit discharge in Fort Myers?
What's the penalty for an illicit stormwater discharge?
Who enforces Fort Myers' stormwater discharge rules?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Fort Myers
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Lee County handle stormwater management.