Commissioner Cohen Higgins Champions Stormwater Management and Flood Mitigation in Miami-Dade County
MIAMI-DADE – In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commission voted on September 4, 2024, in favor of a major stormwater management and flood mitigation ordinance. Sponsored by Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, a staunch advocate for environmental sustainability and Chairwoman of the Biscayne Bay Watershed Advisory Board, and co-sponsored by Commissioners Cabrera, Garcia, Higgins, McGhee, Regalado, and Steinberg. The Impervious Ordinance was developed in collaboration with the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) and all municipalities during a process that took more than a year. This forward-looking legislation aims to enhance stormwater management and foster a healthier more resilient Biscayne Bay.
Commissioner Cohen Higgins highlighted the importance of the new ordinance: “This ordinance reflects Miami-Dade County's unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and proactive stormwater management. By revising our environmental and zoning regulations, we are setting higher standards to protect our communities from flooding and improve water quality, ultimately safeguarding Biscayne Bay for future generations.”
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava praised the ordinance’s role in addressing the impacts of climate change: “Residents across our community are feeling the daily impacts of climate change, from extreme weather flooding to rising seas. Our impervious surfaces ordinance positions Miami-Dade as the resilient community of the future, fostering sustainable growth while tackling a rapidly changing climate. By increasing the amount of rainfall that can be filtered through and captured in the ground, we’re reducing our community’s risk of flooding and keeping dirty water out of Biscayne Bay.”
Lourdes Gomez, Director of the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources, emphasized the collaborative nature of the ordinance’s development: "The Impervious Ordinance is a testament to the power of collaboration between the County, municipalities, and environmental stakeholders. The process was thorough, with input from a wide range of experts and community voices, ensuring that the final legislation is both comprehensive and effective. This ordinance sets a new standard for stormwater management and is a critical step in our collective efforts to protect Miami-Dade County's natural resources."
The ordinance has garnered widespread support from leading environmental organizations, including the Biscayne Bay Marine Health Coalition, Tropical Audubon Society, Ocean Conservancy, Friends of Biscayne Bay, VolunteerCleanUp.org, Urban Paradise Guild, Debris Free Oceans, Friends of the Everglades, Hold the Line, Transit Alliance, Clean Miami Beach, and Miami Waterkeeper.
Key Highlights of the Proposed Ordinance:
- Regulation Updates: Revises environmental and zoning regulations, amends development standards for drainage and impervious surfaces, and implements technical changes to improve resilience and water quality.
- New Standards: Applies to new construction, redevelopment, and substantial improvements in all areas, effective March 31, 2025.
- Municipal Oversight: Allows municipalities to review and permit non-structural impervious surface improvements on single-family and duplex properties without additional DERM review, under specific conditions.
- Documentation and Certification: Requires entities to submit stormwater infrastructure records and maintenance SOPs by December 31, 2026, and certify systems by March 31, 2028.
- Best Practices: Implements best management practices for addressing impervious areas, paving, and improving infrastructure.
- Flood and Water Quality Control: Sets standards for stormwater quantity, quality, and erosion controls, promoting the use of permeable materials and green infrastructure.
- Public Benefits: Enhances property resilience, reduces flood risks, improves water quality, and benefits Biscayne Bay through better stormwater management.