Florida Mandates Stormwater Management Programs (Fla. Stat. 403.0891)

Section 403.0891 states the department, water management districts, and local governments "shall have the responsibility for the development of mutually compatible stormwater management programs," with DEP setting stormwater goals in the water resource implementation rule and districts adopting basin-level goals. Separately, section 373.4131 directs DEP to adopt "statewide environmental resource permitting rules" governing construction, operation, and maintenance of any stormwater management system. Building or altering a stormwater system therefore requires an environmental resource permit administered by DEP or the water management district.

Constructing, altering, or operating a stormwater management system without a required environmental resource permit exposes the owner to enforcement, corrective orders, and civil and administrative penalties by DEP or the water management district under Chapters 373 and 403.