SRWM: Permits Made Simple

permits made simple

You’ve just recently purchased a piece of property along the majestic Suwannee River in North Florida. It’s always been your dream to have riverfront property, and now, after years of hard work and putting money aside, it’s happened! Congratulations! You’re excited, but the work is not done—there are improvements you want to make on the property before it’s perfect, and you can already visualize where that deck and boardwalk are going to go. You have the materials, you have the supplies, and you have the contractor ready to go to work.

But are you missing something? If you don’t have a permit, you’ve skipped a pretty important step! But there is no reason to be concerned—the Suwannee River Water Management District’s Permitting O ce is ready to make that process an easy one, so you can get your project completed in a timely fashion while also preserving North Florida’s scenic rivers for generations to come.

What most people don’t realize is, even if you are the owner of the property, there are certain land changes and improvements that require permits based on your location. If your property is located adjacent to a river, lake, or spring, or if there are nearby wetlands— common in this part of Florida—there may be a few extra steps needed before you start construction!

But where do you start? What questions do you need to ask? What even is a wetland and why is that important?

Here are some tips you can use to make sure you are following the rules of the state and also working toward your overall goal: your project’s completion!

Is your property located in a oodway or oodplain? Do you even know? The easiest way to check is by visiting https:// www.srwmd oodreport.com/ to verify your property’s location. If you’re near the Alapaha, Aucilla, Santa Fe, Suwannee, or Withlacoochee Rivers, this is a good rst step before you start clearing or putting nails to wood.

If your property is in a oodway or oodplain, you may need a permit for work and improvements on your property. These improvements include new structures, decks, porches, docks, driveways, boat ramps, storage sheds, and even replacement or improvements to existing structures. These improvements can include excavating or lling, land clearing, land development, or removing vegetation.

It’s always better to check rst before you start your work rather than nding out you have a violation after the fact!

Do you have a wetland or other surface water on your property? These usually include swamps, marshes, bogs, sloughs, lakes, ponds, and similar areas, and many wetlands have uctuating water levels, which means they can sometimes be dry. These are important—and protected—as they provide essential sh and wildlife habitat, ood control, recreational and aesthetic value, and improve water quality by acting as a natural lter.

Not all wetlands are mapped, but you can start by checking the National Wetland Inventory at https://fwsprimary. wim.usgs.gov/wetlands/apps/wetlandsmapper/ or the SRWMD ood map at https://www.srwmd oodreport.com/ for a guide. If you have wetlands on your property, it doesn’t mean development can’t continue, just that you may need to adjust your plan or mitigate for the impacts.

The State of Florida requires any construction or ground disturbance to be at least 25 feet away from a wetland or other surface water boundary, and a permit is required for any dredging, including digging, excavation, and stump removal; or ll material, including buildings, soil, concrete, or debris deposited in the area. Wetland disturbance should be avoided as much as possible, minimized if unavoidable, and authorized through a district permit before work begins.

Everyone wants access to water and, depending on your location, a well may be your easiest route to providing water for your home or landscaping. But installing a well yourself can be a very di cult task since the water resides in the underlying limestone—all water well construction must be permitted by Suwannee River Water Management District, you should always hire a Florida licensed water well contractor. This is done to ensure that the well is drilled properly and isn’t susceptible to contamination.

The District has made nding a licensed water well contractor easy—on www. mysuwanneeriver.com, you can nd a list of approved contractors in your area and their contact information.

Of course, the easiest way to avoid mistakes is probably the simplest one—ask questions! If you don’t know if your property is in a oodway, or if you don’t know what a wetland looks like, or if the standing water on your property should be considered a pond, the best answers to your questions can be obtained by contacting the Suwannee River Water Management District. The Permitting O ce is happy to answer any questions you may have to ensure your development, construction, or improvement project is done correctly.

For more information or for questions about the SRWMD permitting process, please contact a member of the team in the Division of Resource Management at 386-362-1001 or by email at resourcemanagement@srwmd.org. ■

Suwannee River Water Management 9225 CR 49 Live Oak, FL 32060 Phone: 386.362.1001 Toll Free: 1.800.226.1066