Highlands County, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Highlands County Code §§ 12.12.400-12.12.407
- Design manual
- Highlands County Technical Standards Manual
- Certification required
- Florida-licensed professional engineer
- Emergency exemption
- Storm/hurricane emergency actions, report required
- MS4 program
- Illicit connections/discharges prohibited, § 12.12.407
Summary
In unincorporated Highlands County, Division 4 of the Land Development Regulations governs every stormwater management system built with new development. Highlands County Code § 12.12.400 requires systems to meet state water-quality rules, while § 12.12.402 forces a Florida-licensed engineer to certify that detention and retention basins follow the county's Technical Standards Manual before Development Services will approve a site plan.
A.Purpose and intent. ... This division is intended and shall be interpreted to protect, maintain, and enhance both the immediate and long-term health, safety, and general welfare of the citizens of Highlands County through the following:1.Preventing activities that adversely affect ground and surface waters.2.Encouraging construction of stormwater management systems that aesthetically and functionally approximate natural systems, consistent with regulatory agency requirements.3.Protecting natural drainage systems.4.Minimizing runoff pollution of ground and surface waters.5.Minimizing erosion and sedimentation of receiving waters. ... A.The proposed development and development activity shall not violate the water quality standards as set forth in Chapter 62-302, F.A.C.B.Detention and retention systems shall be designed in conformance with the drainage system design and construction standards described in the Highlands County Technical Standards Manual, current edition.C.The design and construction of the proposed stormwater management system shall be certified as meeting the requirements of these regulations by a professional engineer registered in the State of Florida.
Full Breakdown
400 sets five purposes for the stormwater division: preventing activities that hurt ground and surface waters, encouraging systems that approximate natural drainage, protecting natural drainage systems, minimizing runoff pollution and minimizing erosion and sedimentation of receiving waters. , and with Southwest or South Florida Water Management District rules under Chapters 40D-4/40D-40 or 40E-4/40E-40. Emergency work done to prevent imminent harm from fire, storms or hurricanes is exempt, but the county engineer must still receive a report of the emergency action as soon as practicable. 402, which require water-quality compliance, Technical Standards Manual conformance, professional-engineer certification, a prohibition on channeling surface water into wastewater systems or sinkholes, compatibility with surrounding drainage, independent function for each phase of a phased development, and free access for maintenance of detention and retention basins.
101. 407 layers on a separate National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program that regulates discharges into the county's municipal separate storm sewer system (MS4) and bans illicit connections and illegal discharges.
Violations & Fines
Under section 12.12.405, the county engineer may enter private property at reasonable times to inspect compliance, and under section 12.12.407.G the county can order compliance by written notice, require monitoring and reporting, order the elimination of illicit connections, issue a cease-and-desist order, require abatement or remediation of a contamination hazard, and notify the Florida Department of Environmental Protection or the water management district. A violation that is not corrected proceeds to code enforcement under the Code of Ordinances.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a stormwater management plan for a new subdivision in unincorporated Highlands County?
Who certifies that a detention pond meets county standards?
Can I discharge wash water or construction runoff into the county storm drain system?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Highlands County
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