WETLANDS 101 Guide
A Comprehensive Guide to Wetlands in the Golden Gate Estates Area of Naples, Florida (Collier County)
So, you want to build your Dream Home?
You may have questions and not know where to start. Please review this page to help you with your wetland / upland purchase and sales decisions. Please keep in mind that fee's and information changes through the State and County from time to time. This is a guide to get you started.
Questions you may have...
1) What is Wetland vs. Upland?
2) What is a DEP report?
3) Can I buy a lot without a DEP report?
4) Where do I go to request the DEP survey?
5) How much does the DEP survey cost?
6) How long does it take to receive the DEP report?
Let us help you by answering some of these common questions!
Wetland vs. Upland:
Wetland is an area that is neither dry land nor open water. All wetlands are formed and sustained by the influence of water on land. However, the depth of the water and the length of time it is visible on the surface vary in different types of wetlands. An ERP (Environmental Resource Permit) will be required and additional fees will apply for wetland properties when building a home.
Upland is an area that is dry and meets the D.E.P. criteria.
D.E.P:
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida's lead agency for environmental management and stewardship, is one of the more diverse agencies in state government - protecting our air, water and land. The vision of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is to create strong community partnerships, safeguard Florida’s natural resources and enhance its ecosystems. For more detailed information on the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Resources, please visit: Homeowner's Guide to Wetlands
D.E.P. Survey:
An environmental study to determine if the parcel is Wetland, Upland or a combination of both.
Purchase without a D.E.P. report:
You will not need to have a D.E.P. Report to perform the purchase. You will need it once you are ready to build on the property. It would be helpful to have a DEP Report when you are placing your offer or to get one done during your inspection period so that you do not get any surprises later. If the property turns out to be all Uplands (no wetlands), that is wonderful, but if it has some wetland areas, it would be helpful if you knew this upfront.
Where do I request D.E.P. survey:
Via the County, you can request a survey and make payments online.
Wetland Determination Request & Questions
You can have a study done by a private company such as Tropical Environmental Consultants. Visit their website for more information: http://tropicalenvironmentalconsultants.com/
Ph. 239-455-6232 | 3900 Mannix Dr. #118 Naples, FL 34114 (Collier County Location)
What is the cost of a D.E.P. survey:
There is a $100 fee for the first acre reviewed, with an additional $50 fee for each additional acre, up to a maximum fee of $500. Pursuant to Florida Statute 373.109, an informal determination is not an application for a permit and is not subject to the permit review timeframes established in chapter 120, nor does it constitute final agency action.
How long does it take to get a D.E.P. survey completed:
They make every effort to complete it in a target of 8 weeks upon receipt of all required information.
Additional information:
New construction on any lot has an impact fee charged by the county. A valuable resource to learn about those fees is:
Collier County Residential Impact Fees
If the area that you are building on disturbs wetlands, an ERP (Environmental Resource Permit) will be required and additional fees such as Wetland Mitigation will apply:
Florida Environmental Resource Permitting
*The South District is responsible for the following county areas: Charlotte, Collier, Desoto, Highlands, Hendry, Glades, Lee, Monroe and Sarasota.
Still have questions?
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