City of Miami

The City of Miami is in compliance with the Federal Clean Water Act. The City of Miami is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Miami will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. Stormwater fees will be calculated and collected by the city. The City of Miami, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Miami has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they properly maintained and functioning.

Obtaining and NPDES Permit

Are you performing construction or demolition that will be disturbing 0.5 acres (21,780 square feet) or more of total land area? If so, a City of Miami N.P.D.E.S. (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit is required for compliance with Florida Statutes. All methods of construction shall comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws as required by the City of Miami’s MS4 (Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System) and City Ordinance 13081. To obtain a City of Miami NPDES permit, the SWPPP, the initial NPDES inspection fee and the FLR letter if needed are required.

Miami Stormwater Inspection Schedule

A property owner must have an inspection schedule for all erosion, stormwater, and sediment control measures or best management practices (BMPs): A qualified person procured by the applicant must perform erosion, sediment and stormwater pollution prevention inspections at least weekly and within 24 hours after every rain event of one-half inch or more for sites less than five acres. Sites greater than five acres must be inspected at least weekly and within 24 hours after every rain event of one-quarter inch or more. Maintenance must be performed within one week of the first inspection that indicates such maintenance is required.

Miami Stormwater Utility Fees

Stormwater Utility fees are assigned to all developed residential and non-residential properties and are determined as a function of equivalent residential units (ERU) for residential properties and by determining the impervious area for non-residential properties.

To determine the Stormwater Utility fee for non-residential properties, take the total square footage of the property’s impervious surfaces, divide by 1,548 (the size of one ERU) and multiply by $5 (the cost of one ERU). As an example, a non-residential property with a total impervious area of 4,644 square feet would pay $15 per month in Stormwater Utility fees (using this calculation: 4,644 / 1,548 X $5 = $15)

City of Miami Additional Documents

Miami Stormwater Website

City of Miami Stormwater Master Plan

City of Miami Municipal Code

City of Miami NPDES

Florida Erosion and Sediment Control