Aerial view of a bridge in the lagoon

At the St. Johns River Water Management District, we want to offer you the highest quality customer service. The following lists are intended to provide you with 24-hour access to information you need about District-issued permits and to apply for a permit. We also have helpful, knowledgeable staff working in District services centers throughout our 18-county service area to assist you.

Section 401 water quality certification pre-filing meeting request

The Water Quality Certification Improvement Rule (WQCIR) requires the project proponent request a pre-filing meeting at least 30 days prior to submitting a request for certification unless the certifying authority waives this requirement. SJRWMD hereby waives the pre-filing meeting request requirement. SJRWMD applicants do not need to request a pre-filing meeting prior to submitting an Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) application.  An applicant may request a pre-application meeting to discuss their activity with SJRWMD staff through the ePermit website; however, neither the meeting nor request are requiredThis specifically waives the pre-filing meeting request requirement of the WQCIR and IS NOT a waiver of certification nor regulatory review.

To learn more, visit the website of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

State 404 Program updates

A federal court order was issued just before midnight on Feb. 15, 2024, divesting, at least for now, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) of its authority to issue State 404 Program permits in Florida. Consequently, all activity under the State 404 Program is paused until further order of the court. DEP is currently pursuing any and all legal options in light of the court’s order. Recently, at the state of Florida’s request, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia (D.C.) entered a partial final judgment, which allowed the state to appeal.

Subsequently, the state filed a notice of appeal and will now seek to have the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit overturn that lower court’s order. Additionally, following the district court’s denial of Florida’s request for a full stay, the state filed a motion with the appellate court seeking a full stay of the judge’s vacatur order to continue processing permit applications while the appeal is being heard.

Unless stayed, the court’s ruling will disrupt pending permit applications, including those associated with the restoration of America’s Everglades and critical infrastructure projects for a more resilient Florida.

Updated April 26, 2024