Florida’s Pioneering Stormwater Rule
Chapter 62-25: First in the Nation
Florida adopted Chapter 62-25, Regulations of Stormwater Discharge, in 1981—the first stormwater regulation in the United States. Effective February 1982, this technology-based rule established four key components that would shape stormwater management for decades.
Core Requirements
The rule required an 80% reduction in average annual post-development stormwater pollutant loading of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), or 95% for discharges directly into Outstanding Florida Waters. It included design criteria to achieve treatment levels, established rebuttable presumption that properly designed systems would not harm water resources, and mandated periodic review and updating of Best Management Practices (BMPs) based on research.
Key Performance Standards
- 80% TSS reduction for standard waters
- 95% TSS reduction for Outstanding Florida Waters
- Design criteria for treatment achievement
- Rebuttable presumption of compliance
- Research-based BMP updates
⚠ Important Note
Chapter 62-25 was repealed in 2017 and replaced with updated statewide regulations that built upon the foundation it established.