Agricultural Surface Water Project Permits

Overview

A permit is required for the construction, alteration, repair, or abandonment of impoundments, dams, or works which impound, drain, or divert water. Permits for most dams are issued through the District’s Dam Safety program, but dams used for agriculture or forestry are covered under a different Florida law (Chapter 40A-44, Florida Administrative Code).

Overview of ePermit

District staff provided public training regarding utilization of the new NWFWMD ePermit Portal. Please click on the links below to review the ePermit Reference Guide and PowerPoint presentation that covers the main points of ePermit. There is also an FAQ section at the end of the presentation. Feel free to contact the District if you have questions about ePermit.

ePermit Quick Reference Guide

PowerPoint Presentation on ePermit (.pdf file)

Who needs a permit?

A permit is required for the construction, alteration, repair, or abandonment of impoundments, dams, or works which impound, drain, or divert water.

Farm ponds are regulated by this rule, but not aquaculture or recreation impoundments. The conversion of wetlands by ditching or draining to other uses such as pasture, crop land or pine plantation requires a permit from the District and may also require permits from the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and the US Army Corps of Engineers.