Obtaining an N.P.D.E.S. 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.  

NOTE: If you will be applying for a Building permit, you must get your N.P.D.E.S permit first. If the construction is taking place in the right-of-way (and is more than 0.5 acres), you must get the N.P.D.E.S permit first, before getting your right-of-way permit from iPW (the electronic plan review for right-of-way permitting). 

Steps

Provide Documents

The documents you need to provide in Projectdox are determined by the total size of your project. Please see below and follow accordingly. 

A. If your project is disturbing 0.5 acres to 1.0 acres (21,780 to 43,560 square feet), you need the following:

  • A signed/sealed Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) that complies with the most recent versions of the FDEP/FDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Designer and Reviewer Manual and/or the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector’s Manual, and Public Works Standards. The plan and narrative sections are required. The SWPPP must be entered in Projectdox under the "Drawings" tab.
  • $595 permit review fee to the City of Miami.  Payment will be automatically assessed with the BD permit fees or through a transaction identification number for PW permits.
  • Proof of payment of the NPDES Initial inspection fee. The fee number is sent in an e-mail or placed in Projectdox in the reviewer's comment.

B. If your project is disturbing more than one (1) acre (43,560 square feet or more), you will need the following items:

  • A signed/sealed Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPP) that complies with the most recent versions of the FDEP/FDOT Erosion and Sediment Control Designer and Reviewer Manual and/or the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector’s Manual, and Public Works Standards. The plan and narrative sections are required. The SWPPP must be entered in Projectdox under the "Drawings" tab.
  • $595 permit review fee to the City of Miami.  Payment will be automatically assessed with the BD permit fees or through a transaction identification number for PW permits.
  • FDEP Permit Letter of Permit Coverage with the corresponding FLR#. FDEP charges an additional permit fee. In order to obtain the FDEP permit, a notice of intent (NOI) must be submitted to FDEP. For more information, please contact State of Florida Department of Environmental Protection. The FLR letter must be entered in Projectdox under the "Documents" tab. 
  • Proof of payment of the NPDES Initial inspection fee. The fee number is sent in an e-mail or placed in Projectdox in the reviewer's comment.

Schedule N.P.D.E.S Inspection(s) 

  • After receiving your BD or PW permit, but before you begin any construction or demolition, your project contractor needs to contact the NPDES Section at (305) 416-1295 for the initial erosion and sediment control inspection of the construction site. The NPDES initial inspection will consist of making sure that the best management practices in the approved SWPPP are in place and all the storm sewer inlets in the vicinity of the construction area are protected and free of debris. The following are the costs associated with NPDES Inspections per City Ordinance 13915 adopted 9-24-2020:

    ·       NPDES permit review fee is $595.00.

    ·       NPDES INITIAL inspection fee for projects ½ acres to 1 acres is $1,000.00.

    ·       NPDES INITIAL inspection fee for projects more than 1 acres is $2,000.00.

    ·       NPDES FINAL inspection fee for projects ½ acres to 1 acres is $525.00.

    ·       NPDES FINAL inspection fee for projects more than 1 acres is $750.00.

    ·       NPDES 6 MONTH VACTOR TRUCK cleaning and inspection fee is $0.00 (no fee).

    ·       NPDES VIOLATION fee for any project size is $500.00 per violation per calendar day.

  • The City Inspector will be conducting a thorough inspection of the construction site on a weekly basis or after 1/4” rain storm event. A copy of the inspection report is available for review in the Department of Resilience and Public Works.
  • For a final inspection, you must arrange to have a vactor truck company come to the site to clean the storm sewer systems in the vicinity of the construction site in the presence of a N.P.D.E.S. Inspector. You should call to set up a final inspection with the N.P.D.E.S. Inspector or by calling 305-415-1295. 
  • NPDES Violation letters will be sent to the contractor for not following best management practices can place a hold on obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy and create unnecessary cost (violation fees) to the Contractor. The cost for violation is $500 per day per violation. The NPDES Inspector will send a transaction id with the violation fee for payment.
  • NPDES Final inspection will be granted once the construction site has passed the NPDES Final inspection and all violations fees have been paid.

Q: I have to pump water away from part or all of my site because I have standing water onsite and I need to work in a dry condition. Do I need a permit?

Yes.

Q: I already have a stormwater permit from DERM. Do I need the City approval too?

Yes. What you received from DERM was an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) which is necessary for the construction of stormwater management and conveyance systems. The City of Miami NPDES approval is a different process. If it satisfies the City’s requirements, you may be able to submit the SWPPP developed for the ERP to the City as part of the NPDES approval

Q: I’ll be pouring concrete as part of my project. Can I use the storm drains to drain the water that is used to rinse off the concrete trucks?

NO! Excess concrete and concrete washwater can only be disposed into approved watertight concrete washout areas. These areas should be clearly shown on the SWPPP with a detail included. Concrete washwater and wet concrete are caustic and must be treated as hazardous waste. It should never be washed or placed in storm drains or on the public right-of-way.

Q: I am a contractor working on a City of Miami or School Board or FDOT or Miami-Dade County or a Federal funded project. I’m exempt from these requirements?

No. The NPDES approval process applies to all entities working within City of Miami limits, without exception, including public agencies and utilities.

Q: I implemented all the measures listed in my approved SWPPP but there are still erosion and sediment problems on my site. I’m still in compliance, right?

No. The State of Florida and City of Miami NPDES laws are performance-based. This means that your erosion and sediment control measures have to work in order for the site to be in compliance. If they don’t work, the Operator is responsible for strengthening or changing the practices so that they do work. All such changes must be recorded in the stormwater pollution prevention plan, SWPPP kept onsite and are subject to Public Works NPDES Section approval.

Q: How can I be in compliance/what mistakes should I avoid? 

  • Dirt or other Pollution entering the City of Miami affects the Storm Sewer System. You must protect all the storm water systems as indicated in the initial inspection and the approved SWPPP.
  • Dewatering turbid excavated water (no more than > 29 NTU) in the public right of way.
  • Do not start clearing and grading, demolition, or construction without a City of Miami NPDES permit approval.
  • Maintain all best management practices in good condition and practice good housekeeping.
  • Violations Fine for non-compliance run $500 per violation per day per City Ordinance 13081.
  • Call NPDES Inspector for violation compliance inspection.
  • Oil and diesel spills must be contained and treated immediately and a report filed with the City and DERM.
  • Please call Resilience and Public Works NPDES Section for additional information at (305) 416- 1295.
  • Please report Pollution at (305) 416-1295

 

Contact Us

Phone

305-416-1295

Email

eestevez@miamigov.com

Location

Miami Riverside Center
444 SW 2nd Ave, 8th Floor (NPDES Section)
Miami
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