Sarasota County, FL Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- MS4 rule
- only stormwater may enter the storm sewer
- MS4 permit
- FLS000004, issued by Florida DEP
- Civil penalty
- up to $10,000 per offense
- Construction sites
- 48-hr notice + SWPPP before starting
- Inspections
- 8am-5pm, 7 days, no notice required
Summary
Sarasota County's Water Pollution Control Code bans dumping anything but stormwater into the county's storm sewer system. Section 54-187(f) prohibits illicit discharges and unauthorized connections to the county's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System, covering everything from soapy wash water to construction-site runoff, and backs the ban with civil penalties up to $10,000 per offense.
(f)Unauthorized Discharges.(1)Any direct or indirect discharge from a Site of Industrial Activity to a Stormwater System that does not comply with, or is not pursuant to, a valid NPDES permit or the provisions of this article is prohibited.(2)Except as specifically authorized by a valid federal, State, or local permit, the discharge of sewage, industrial waste, or other wastes, whether through runoff, piped connections, seepage, or leaks, into the Stormwater.(3)No Person may maintain, use, or establish any direct or indirect connection to any part of the Stormwater System that results in any Illicit Discharge that does not comply with, or is not pursuant to, a valid federal, State, or local permit.(4)No Person shall spill, dump, or discharge, or cause to be spilled or discharged, into any Stormwater conveyance, any materials other than those composed entirely of Stormwater.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 98).
Full Breakdown
Article VII of Chapter 54, the Sarasota County Water Pollution Control Code, regulates what can legally reach the county's storm drains. " Section 54-187(f) then spells out the prohibition directly: no discharge from a site of industrial activity without a valid NPDES permit, no sewage or industrial waste reaching stormwater by runoff, piping, seepage, or leaks, no illicit connection to the storm sewer, and no spilling or dumping anything other than stormwater into a stormwater conveyance. Waters throughout the county must also stay free of floating debris, oil, grease, and other objectionable substances under Section 54-187(e).
Construction sites disturbing enough ground to need coverage under the state's Construction Generic Permit must give the County Administrator 48 hours' notice before starting work, post the DEP coverage confirmation on-site, and draft and certify a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan, keeping copies of it and the required inspection logs at the project site under Section 54-187(g)(1). , seven days a week, without advance notice, under Section 54-185(a)(4). Violations are enforced through the Sarasota County Code Enforcement Special Magistrate process or in court, and willful or recklessly indifferent violations are prosecuted as misdemeanors under Section 54-189(c).
Violations & Fines
Each unauthorized discharge or illicit connection is a separate civil violation under Section 54-189, carrying a penalty of up to $10,000.00 for the first offense and up to $10,000.00 for every offense after that, with penalties funneled into the county's Pollution Recovery Trust Fund. The County Administrator can also enter consent orders, and a willful or recklessly indifferent violation is prosecuted as a misdemeanor under general law.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can't I legally put into a Sarasota County storm drain?
Does a construction site need a permit before it can disturb stormwater drainage?
What happens if I'm caught dumping something into a canal or storm sewer?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sarasota County
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