The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) new online business portal is now open for business. DEP today hosted office hours across Florida coinciding with the launch of the new business portal which hosts the agency’s public access tools in one convenient location. Many licenses, permits, reservations and subscription services can now be easily navigated from the portal, with more to come.
“With the growing presence of the web, we are committed to using it to provide exceptional customer service online,” said DEP Secretary Mimi Drew. “The business portal is an open door for residents, local governments and the private sector to find information and transact business with DEP.”
Today’s office hours gave the public a first glimpse at the new portal along with one-on-one assistance navigating it. DEP has integrated existing online services with the portal and added new features to enhance and simplify online access and make DEP’s work more transparent.
Among other things, the portal allows Florida residents and business to obtain an increasing variety of self-service authorizations, including:
- Exemptions for new construction, repair and replacement, or installation of a boat lift at a single-family dock;
- Exemption for construction of a new single-family dock and boat lift; and
- Noticed General Permit for installing rip rap along the face of an existing seawall.
“Simple projects should have simple pathways—and we should all save paper,” said Secretary Drew. “Approvals of these simple projects that used to take up to 30 days can now be done in less than 30 minutes.”
The online authorization system asks several questions about the project, its size and location to help the applicant determine that it qualifies for online approval. If so, after a few more questions and answers, the applicant has an authorization in hand. Users can simultaneously receive authorization to use state owned or sovereignty submerged lands, and in some cases, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ dredge and fill authorization. In the coming months, additional authorizations will include used oil transporters and waste tire collectors.
The business portal also allows users to sign up for agency publications and permit notifications, follow contaminated site cleanup, and make campsite reservations at Florida’s 160 state parks.
To view the new business portal, visit www.dep.state.fl.us.
