Florida Updates Stormwater Rules | Stormwater Solutions

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law SB7040, which updates environmental laws to include a series of standards recommended by the Department of Environmental Protection.

The signed legislation sets out the regulations that developers must follow. Applicants seeking permits from the state must provide information through designs and plans that meet performance standards, as well as meet other requirements under the revised regulations.

Applicants must also demonstrate compliance with the performance standards set forth in the regulations by providing reasonable assurance through modeling, calculations, and supporting documentation that meets the provisions of the revised regulations.5

According to the article, the regulations establish new minimum standards for stormwater treatment systems. They require them to achieve at least an 80% reduction in average annual total suspended solids load after construction, or a 95% reduction if the proposed project is located in a watershed containing Outstanding Florida Waters (OWF) or upstream.

The bill also clarifies the provisions regarding projects covered by acquired rights, i.e. projects that began before the signing of the bill.

The bill also provides that entities implementing best stormwater management practices that are also regulated by different laws are not subject to duplicate inspections for the same practices, and allows for alternative treatment standards for redevelopment projects in areas with contaminated waters.

The updated rules go into effect weeks after DeSantis signed a state budget that cuts about $205 million in spending on stormwater, wastewater and sewer projects.