Addressing Drainage Complaints and Issues
Are you experiencing flooding or drainage not caused by a storm event? Confused about which government agency to reach out to for help? Use this reference guide to find out who to contact.
Contact the Southwest Florida Water Management District for drainage complaints or issues related to:
- Stormwater management systems (i.e. retention ponds, swales, etc.) in District-permitted subdivisions constructed after Oct. 1, 1984 (You may also contact the subdivision’s homeowners association or CDD)
- Wetlands and/or activities with wetland impacts where the activity falls within a District-permitted project
- Dewatering violations or runoff from a District-permitted construction site
- Agriculture and larger water users
- Mobile home communities owned by a single entity
Also contact the Southwest Florida Water Management District for questions about jurisdictional responsibilities related to:
- Projects constructed after 1984
- Agricultural-related projects
- District-maintained structures and canals
- Wetlands not associated with single-family residential
- Unpermitted building construction
- Project deviations
- Dewatering
- Water restrictions or violations
- Surface water and groundwater withdrawals
- Well construction
Contact your local county for roadway flooding or drainage problems related to:
- Maintenance of swales, ditches, cross drains and culverts within the right-of-ways on county-maintained roads
- Emergency pumping to protect the health, safety and welfare of the general public
- Drainage complaints that involve runoff from county roadways, ditches or easements
Also contact your local county for flooding not associated with roadways related to:
- County easements or right-of-ways
- Home flooding and emergencies determined by the Board of County Commissioners
- Emergency pumping to protect the health, life, safety and welfare of the general public
Contact the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for drainage complaints or issues related to:
- Single-family homes, not part of a larger District-permitted subdivision
- Lakes, streams and other waters of the state
- Water quality issues, i.e. groundwater contamination, illegal dumping of chemicals, etc.
Contact the Florida Department of Health for drinking water, septic-related and water quality concerns.
Contact your local municipality for drainage and/or flooding within city limits.
For a detailed list of Emergency Operation Centers (EOC), county contact information and more visit our Flooding and Drainage Contact Information webpage.