Many of the activities of the Orlando Service Center focus on the regulation of water resources in the area. SFWMD regulates the management and storage of surface waters, including dredging or filling in wetlands, by requiring environmental resource permits. Any proposed surface water management system involving a project site 100 acres or more in size -- or with more than 1 acre of wetland impacts -- will require an Individual Permit. In most cases, project sites less than 100 acres in size with less than 1 acre of wetland impacts qualify for a Standard General, Noticed General or No Notice General Permit.
The objective of SFWMD Permitting is to assure that permitted activities are neither harmful to the water resources within the District nor inconsistent with the public interest.
Obtaining a Permit
The Orlando Service Center staff members are available to assist permit applicants in the permitting process. A pre-permit conference between applicant and service center staff is strongly encouraged. Permit costs vary depending on the nature of the application. The time required for reviewing a permit application also varies, depending on the complexity of the application and sufficiency of information submitted by the applicant. Once an application is complete, the District must take action within 30 days for the Noticed General Permits, 60 days for Standard General Permits, and within 90 days for Individual Permits.
ePermitting - Permit application submission, queries and reporting are now available on-line.
Florida Permitting Portal - Portal to all five water management districts' (WMDs) permitting. In counties where jurisdictions are split among WMDs, interactive features help you determine which district covers different parts of a county.
Regulatory Database Browsing and Downloading (RegDBD) - Instructions on how to download regulatory spatial data and an Arc/IMS site for viewing and displaying information regarding permits and facilities for all five water management districts.
The District’s Environmental Resource Permit Manual, known as Volume IV, can be downloaded, or obtained from the Orlando Service Center at a cost of $30 plus shipping. Volume III, Water Use Basis of Review can also be downloaded.
NEW: Florida Permitting Portal - Portal to all five water management districts' (WMDs) permitting. In counties where jurisdictions are split among WMDs, interactive features help you determine which district covers different parts of a county.
Big Cypress Basin
Permitting
