Sunrise, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- On-Site Retention
- First 1/2 inch of rain
- Code Section
- LDC Sec. 16-216
- Primary Canals
- Regulated by SFWMD
- Stormwater Utility
- Sec. 15-7, Schedule D rates
- MS4 Permit
- Broward County NPDES
Summary
Sunrise requires the first half-inch of rainfall from any site to be retained on-site using swales, trench drains, or retention ponds. The city runs a stormwater utility and operates under a Broward County NPDES MS4 permit.
The first one-half (½) inch of rainfall shall be retained on-site through the use of swales, trench drains, retention ponds and other similar techniques reasonably acceptable to the department.
Full Breakdown
Under Land Development Code Sec. 16-216, the first one-half inch of rainfall must be retained on-site through swales, trench drains, retention ponds, or similar techniques acceptable to the utilities department. Sunrise's drainage is a three-tier network: roadside swales and catch basins, secondary canals and lakes, and a primary canal system regulated by the South Florida Water Management District, which drains westward toward the Everglades. The city funds maintenance through a stormwater utility (Sec. 15-7) with rates set under Schedule D (Sec. 15-120). Illicit discharges to the storm drain and canal system are prohibited.
Violations & Fines
Illicit discharge to storm drains or canals: fines and mandatory cleanup. Failure to provide required on-site retention blocks site-plan and building approval and can trigger a stop-work order until corrected.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much stormwater must I keep on my property?
Who regulates the canals in Sunrise?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sunrise
Florida rules heatmap·Compare Sunrise to another location·View the Florida environmental rules overview
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Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Broward County handle stormwater management.