Environmental Resource Permits (ERP) for South Florida Site Development: Chapter 62-330 and the SFWMD
- Endless Life Design
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If your project moves earth, manages stormwater, or touches a wetland or other surface water, the Environmental Resource Permit is usually the first state approval that governs the site. In South Florida it is administered by the South Florida Water Management District, and getting it right early sets the entire site-development schedule. Endless Life Design plans and permits these systems across the tri-county region.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
What an Environmental Resource Permit Regulates
Who Administers the ERP (DEP and the Water Management Districts)
Three Types: General, Conceptual Approval, and Individual
The Application and Conditions for Issuance
Stormwater Water-Quality Standards (2024 Update)
Erosion and Sediment Control During Construction
County and Municipality Inspection Comments for Permit Approval
Related Resources
Why Choose Endless Life Design
WHAT AN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE PERMIT REGULATES
The ERP program operates under Part IV of Chapter 373, Florida Statutes, and the statewide rule, Chapter 62-330, Florida Administrative Code, which took effect October 3, 1995. It governs the construction, alteration, operation, maintenance, repair, abandonment, and removal of stormwater management systems, dams, impoundments, reservoirs, and works, including dredging and filling in wetlands and other surface waters as delineated under Chapter 62-340, F.A.C. New activities in uplands that generate stormwater runoff are included.
WHO ADMINISTERS THE ERP (DEP AND THE WATER MANAGEMENT DISTRICTS)
The program is implemented jointly by the Department of Environmental Protection, the five water management districts, and delegated local governments. In South Florida that is the South Florida Water Management District. The ERP Applicant's Handbook Volume I applies statewide, while each district's Volume II addresses regional differences in hydrology, soils, geology, and rainfall.
THREE TYPES: GENERAL, CONCEPTUAL APPROVAL, AND INDIVIDUAL
There are three categories of ERP:
General Permits — for activities with limited, predictable impacts; authorized by District staff.
Conceptual Approval Permits — approve a master plan concept before later phases are permitted.
Individual Permits — for larger or more complex projects.
General permits and smaller individual permits are authorized by District staff. Individual permits for a project area over 100 acres, with more than 10 acres of wetland impacts, or more than 30 boat slips are issued by the District's Executive Director.
THE APPLICATION AND CONDITIONS FOR ISSUANCE
Applications use Form 62-330.060(1), a joint application that also covers the State 404 Program Permit and Authorization to Use State-Owned Submerged Lands where applicable. The conditions for issuance of individual and conceptual approval permits are set out in Rules 62-330.301 and 62-330.302, F.A.C., addressing water quantity, water quality, and impacts to wetlands and other surface waters.
STORMWATER WATER-QUALITY STANDARDS (2024 UPDATE)
Effective June 28, 2024, Chapter 62-330 and the ERP Applicant's Handbook were amended to add new water-quality performance standards and supporting calculations in Sections 8.0 and 9.0 of Volume I, along with updates to operation and maintenance requirements in Section 12.0. Unless specifically grandfathered under Section 3.1.2, applications are subject to the amended rules, so current designs must reflect the updated treatment criteria.
EROSION AND SEDIMENT CONTROL DURING CONSTRUCTION
Erosion and sediment control measures must be installed and maintained in accordance with the State of Florida Erosion and Sediment Control Designer and Reviewer Manual and the Florida Stormwater Erosion and Sedimentation Control Inspector's Manuals. These controls protect the permitted system and downstream waters throughout construction.
COUNTY AND MUNICIPALITY INSPECTION COMMENTS FOR PERMIT APPROVAL
Common comments before issuance and during construction include:
Wetland and surface-water delineation not confirmed under Chapter 62-340.
Stormwater treatment volume not meeting the updated Section 8.0 and 9.0 criteria.
Operation and maintenance entity and obligations not documented.
Erosion and sediment control plan absent or not to the State manuals.
Construction commencement and as-built certification requirements not met.
RELATED RESOURCES
WHY CHOOSE ENDLESS LIFE DESIGN
Endless Life Design is a licensed Florida general contractor serving Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties across construction, engineering, architecture, interior design, and 3D rendering. We coordinate state environmental, water-management, and building-department approvals as one accountable process, so your project advances from blueprint to certificate of occupancy without avoidable delay.
Endless Life Design — Licensed Florida General Contractor. Visit endlesslifedesign.com, call (305) 680-3283, or email endlesslifedesign@endlesslifedesign.com.
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