DERM stormwater compliance in Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade's DERM enforces some of the strictest stormwater rules in Florida under Chapter 24. We handle the field maintenance — catch basin vacuuming, exfiltration trench recovery, hydro-jetting, and outfall screening — and deliver the DERM-ready documentation package that closes out a notice or supports an inspection.
What DERM inspects
- Catch basin sediment depth against the cleaning trigger
- Exfiltration trench and French drain percolation (Miami-Dade uses these heavily due to the water table)
- Baffle boxes, treatment units, and pretreatment structures
- Outfalls to canals, secondary canals, or the C&SF system
- Illicit discharge indicators — sheen, staining, odor
- Current O&M documentation on file
Exfiltration trench recovery
Miami-Dade properties often rely on exfiltration trenches and French drains rather than surface ponds. When these clog with sediment, the entire site loses its retention capacity — the fix is targeted cleanout, not a bigger basin. We inspect, jet, vacuum, and re-verify percolation.
Responding to a DERM notice
DERM notices are workable when addressed promptly with documentation. We turn around a free aerial + permit desktop review in a few days, mobilize a crew for corrective work on your timeline, and hand you photos, manifests, and a signed report formatted for DERM submission.
Frequently asked questions
What is DERM and what does it enforce?
What does DERM typically look for on a stormwater inspection?
How often should Miami-Dade commercial properties clean catch basins?
We got a DERM notice — what do we do?
Got a DERM notice or a scheduled inspection?
Free aerial + permit desktop review, then one mobilization to inspect, clean, and document.