Stormwater Inspections & Monitoring

The Construction General Permit (CGP) requires regular inspections of erosion and sediment controls (typically weekly and after 0.5″ rain events) to ensure they are effective. As of June 2025, Florida’s new Statewide Stormwater Rule requires these inspections to be overseen by a Qualified Inspector for many systems. A Qualified Inspector must have completed the Florida Stormwater, Erosion, and Sedimentation Control Inspector (FSESCI) Training Program.

• Construction Site Operators: Projects disturbing more than one (1) acre, or less than one (1) acre if it is part of a common plan of development, must have a SWPPP, conduct inspections every 7 days, and after a 0.50-inch rain event.
• Industrial Facilities: Various sectors (e.g., manufacturing, mining, transportation) that have the potential for pollutants to enter surface waters or MS4s require NPDES Multi-Sector Generic Permit (MSGP) coverage, with mandatory visual and sometimes analytical monitoring.
• Municipalities and Transportation Agencies: Cities, counties, and entities like the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) that operate MS4s must maintain permits and monitor their systems.
• Property Managers/HOAs: Once construction is complete, homeowners or condominium associations (HOAs) or property managers often inherit the responsibility for maintaining stormwater management systems.

• Routine Inspections: Checking silt fences, inlets, and stabilized exits conducted by qualified personnel (e.g., FSESCI certified)
• Rainfall Monitoring: Tracking storm events.
• Corrective Action Reporting: Documenting needed repairs.

Records of inspections must be kept on-site. Gaps in records are the most common violation cited during EPA/FDEP audits. Ignoring this requirement can lead to costly delays, enforcement actions, or permanent impacts on project viability.

• Inspection Logs: Signed reports for the SWPPP binder.
• Turbidity Monitoring Data: If discharging to impaired waters.