Construction site planning must take into consideration sediment and erosion control measures as it is illegal to discharge soil and sediment offsite. When construction occurs within the City of Tampa it is coordinated through the Construction Services Division.  A Preliminary Plan Review meeting will need to be scheduled during the permitting process with Construction Services to gain approval on your proposed site erosion controls. 

During construction at your site, the site erosion control plan must be adhered to and City inspectors will routinely inspect the site to ensure that erosion control best management practices are properly installed and maintained.  Failure to do so may result in cited violations, monetary fines and/or work stoppage.  It is the inspector's job to ensure that Tampa's surface waters are protected from pollution that is a result of construction activities.

Suggested considerations include:

• A well-planned and identified construction entrance to prevent major erosion and sedimentation problems.
• Silt fences must be installed prior to any earthwork at the site.  Silt fences must remain in place during the entirety of construction activities.
• Trees, especially grand trees, require special protection.  If you have any questions on the status of a grand tree, contact the Construction Services Division @ (813) 274-3100.
• Construction roads, parking areas, and the construction entrance should be stabilized immediately and traffic flow should be controlled.
• Equipment operators should use designated routes to limit ruts, erosion, and the tracking of sediment and debris from the site.
• The permanent stormwater drainage system should be installed during the early stages of construction and used to manage runoff during the construction phase.  All inlets should be protected with appropriate measures to prevent sediment from entering the system.
• A few small well-maintained traps or barriers properly located can control sediment better than a single large sediment basin.