Port St. Lucie, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing chapter
- Code of Ordinances Ch. 56
- Permit required for
- blocking or altering any swale/ditch
- Illicit discharge report window
- by next business day
- Recordkeeping requirement
- 3 years for commercial dischargers
- Enforcing office
- City Engineer / Public Works
- Penalty
- civil suit plus cleanup cost recovery
Summary
Port St. Lucie's Chapter 56 Stormwater Management code makes it unlawful to block, fill, alter or obstruct any swale, canal, ditch or drainage course without a city, state or federal permit. The Public Works Department reviews stormwater system plans, only stormwater and a listed set of clean discharges may enter the system, and unauthorized dumping or connections trigger cleanup costs and code penalties.
(a)No person shall:(1)Throw, deposit, leave, maintain, keep or cause to be thrown, deposited, left, or maintained, in or upon any public or private property, driveway, parking area, street, alley, sidewalk, component of the stormwater management system, or water of the U.S., any refuse, rubbish, garbage, litter, or other discarded or abandoned objects, articles, and accumulations, so that the same may enter a stormwater management system.(2)Block, fill, alter or obstruct any drainage course, swale, canal, ditch or any type of stormwater management area, private or public, in a manner which alters the intended use of the facility, unless specifically authorized by the city or appropriate state or federal permit.(3)Make any changes or modify the stormwater management system except as exempted in this chapter, without first obtaining applicable city permits.(4)Permit or cause adverse drainage impacts to the stormwater management system or property.(5)Fail to properly maintain a stormwater management facility so that it operates as permitted.(6)Permit, cause or establish unauthorized connection(s) to the city's stormwater management system.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 103).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 56 of the Port St. 01 as the pipes, swales, canals, ditches, ponds and other infrastructure that collect and convey stormwater. 02 states the chapter's purpose is to protect the quantity and quality of ground and surface waters, perpetuate groundwater recharge, reduce erosion and sedimentation, and protect life and property from rainfall events. 03 splits responsibility: the city plans, builds and maintains stormwater facilities on public property and in public rights-of-way and easements, while private owners must plan, build and maintain the facilities on their own land.
04(a) makes it unlawful to throw or leave refuse, garbage or litter where it can enter the stormwater system, to block, fill, alter or obstruct any drainage course, swale, canal or ditch without a city, South Florida Water Management District, state or federal permit, to modify the stormwater system without a city permit, to cause adverse drainage impacts, or to fail to maintain a permitted stormwater facility. Subsection (b) bars swimming, diving and operating motorized vehicles or watercraft on city stormwater land absent city authorization.
11, which requires a discharger to report a release to the city engineer by the next business day and keep records for three years. 20 requires stormwater management systems to be designed under the city's Engineering Standards for Land Development and inspected and approved by the city before use.
Violations & Fines
Section 56.05 makes tampering with, damaging or trespassing on stormwater facilities grounds for criminal prosecution, and the city can sue in civil court to recover repair costs. Section 56.12 holds anyone who discharges pollutants and fails to correct the condition responsible for the city's testing, containment, removal and disposal costs. Under Section 56.04, unauthorized connections must be removed or permitted immediately, and the city may enter the property to remove a connection and bill the owner for the work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I fill in a drainage swale on my property in Port St. Lucie?
What can legally be discharged into the city's storm drains?
Who fixes a broken or clogged swale, the city or the homeowner?
What happens if I connect a pipe to the city stormwater system without permission?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Port St. Lucie
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Port St. Lucie to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.