Growth FAQ - Engineering

What is an Environmental Management Permit?

After receiving your land use approval, in the form of a subdivision or site plan, you are ready to secure approval of your final construction plans, in the form of an Environmental Management Permit and Building Permit. To apply for an Environmental Management Permit, which will allow you to begin site work, you must show details of your stormwater systems and landscape plans. Further, you must show how you plan to protect the trees on your site and prevent erosion during construction.

The Environmental Management Permit provides the detailed analysis of protected trees, stormwater management, site grading, erosion and sediment controls, and landscaping. The Environmental Management Permit is compared to the previously prepared Natural Features Inventory, Environmental Impact Analysis, and site plan or subdivision plat. The focus is on compliance with required mitigation for regulated features, protected trees, and other requirements of the Tallahassee Land Development Code. As a practical matter, the Environmental Management Permit results in detailed construction drawings that both protect environmental resources and serve as the basis for the site disturbance and building permit.