​Broward County Storage Tank Construction/Closure Modification Requirements

A Broward County Storage Tank Facility License is required prior to building, erecting, operating, modifying, closing or replacing in whole or in part any storage tank system that is intended to store hazardous material in Broward County. Aboveground storage tank systems with capacities greater than 550 gals and underground storage tank systems with capacities greater than 110 gals are subject to Broward County Chapter 27, Article X, Storage Tanks regulation.

Special Note: Effective 2/26/2013, Chapter 27, Pollution Control, of the Broward County Code of Ordinances (Code), Article X, Storage Tanks, no longer requires Stage II Vapor Recovery (Stage II) Systems be installed at Gasoline Dispensing Facilities (GDF). However, GDF owners or operators with existing Stage II systems must either continue to maintain and operate their systems in accordance with the Ordinance or file for a License Modification approval/permit to close, remove, or decommission their Stage II system in accordance with the Code. It shall be prohibited to dismantle, remove, disconnect, cease to operate, close or decommission Stage II systems without applying for, and obtaining a License Modification approval prior to performing any of the aforementioned activities. 

The License approval process consists of the review of a Broward County Storage Tank Facility License application along with engineering drawings signed and sealed by a Professional Engineer (P.E.) licensed in the state of Florida. Steps taken to approve the application package are summarized in the following checklist. This checklist is created to serve as a guide to the owner/operator, contractor, or engineer through the storage tank modification/construction approval process.

Storage Tank Facility License Application​

• As part of the latest electronic Permit (ePermits) release, Storage Tank customers can now submit applications for new storage tank facilities or modifications to currently licensed facilities. This service can be accessed at any time to submit applications, upload documents, and pay fees by clicking on the following weblink: http://www.broward.org/ePermits/Pages/Default.aspx. 
• Following are alternative and other steps needed to complete your License application.

• A License application package, consisting of the Storage Tank Facility License application and 4 sets of signed and sealed engineering plans, must be submitted to the Environmental Permitting Division (EPD)  for approval prior to commencing storage tank construction, closure or modification activities.
  
• Complete all items on the application. 
  
• The specifications in item 8 (Storage Tanks) must be consistent with the requirements of Chapter 27, Article X, Storage Tanks, Broward County Code; Chapters 62-761, 62-762, and 62-252 Florida Administrative Code; Florida Building Code; Broward County Local Amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention Code and reference standards as listed in these codes. (See list of Reference Standards below).
  

• Stage II Vapor Recovery System is no longer required or recommended and is no longer available on application form. (See Special Note above).

• If item 10 is answered “YES” indicating de-watering will take place during the construction or if the facility is listed on the Environmental Permitting Division’s (EPD) list of contaminated sites, the engineering plans will be reviewed by the EPD. Click here to view contaminated sites and their locations. De-watering activities at/or within 1/4-mile radius of contaminated sites will be reviewed by the EPD and will require additional information prior to approval. Click here to view information regarding de-watering.
  

• Item 13 (Applicant’s certification) must be completed and signed by the owner/operator or authorized agent. The Certified Pollutant Storage System Contractor (PSSC) must also complete and sign this section for construction/modification involving underground storage tank systems. Click here to view the list of PSSC.
  

• Upon receiving the application package, the EPD will perform a preliminary administrative review of the application and determine the License fee to be paid.

Engineering Plans

All construction, engineering plans, or drawings accompanying the application shall consist of the following:

• When submitted through ePermit, electronic engineering drawings shall be digitally signed, dated and sealed or utilize an electronic signature that creates a 'digital signature' file as prescribed by 61G15-23 F.A.C. If the electronic signature method is used, an authentication code or SHA-1 report must be created, printed and manually signed, dated, sealed and sent to EPD with the electronic plans as prescribed by 61G15-23 F.A.C.
• All engineering hard copy plans or drawings (blueprints) must be signed, sealed, and dated by a Professional Engineer licensed in the state of Florida. Blueprint copies sized 24" X 36" are preferred.
• A title block shall be used on each sheet of plans or prints and shall contain the printed name, address, and license number of the engineer who has signed, dated and sealed the plans or prints.
• Blueprints must have an appropriate scale reference and/or dimensioned in feet or meters.
• A site map showing the facility location in relation to streets, highways, avenues, buildings, etc., and north directional arrow.
• The complete storage tank facility address shown on all blueprint pages.
• Show plan and elevation views of tanks, piping, pumps, fuel dispensers, secondary containment systems, monitoring well locations or other approved release detection systems proposed. Indicate the manufacturer's name, make, model and type (manual or electronic) of release detection system to be used or installed.
• Show storage tank/piping size, depth, buoyancy and wind moment calculations, backfill material, slab details, anchorage details, secondary containment details and material. Stage II vapor recovery pipe configuration, size, and vent pipe size must be included.
• Indicate the scope of work to be performed and the description of approved materials required for construction.
• Indicate the name and license number of the PSSC contracted to perform the work (optional). This information must be the same as shown on the License application.
  

• The manufacture name, model, and type of the storage tank, overfill prevention, spill containment, submersible pump with line-leak-detector, suction pumps, check valves, anti-siphon valves, shear valves, tank/pipe membrane liner, interstitial release detection, tank gauge, pump and dispenser sump/liner. Storage Tank System equipment or components must have the approval of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) before installation or use.  Click here to view the current approved equipment/components.
  

• Show building and/or canopy footing depth relative to ground water depth where applicable.

An engineer from the EPD will review the blueprints for technical sufficiency, and if approved, will affix the "APPROVED RE: CHAPTER 27 - ARTICLE X STORAGE TANKS" green color stamp on the blueprints.

NOTE. After EPD approval of the application and engineering plans, the owner or their authorized agent is required to notify the EPD for the purpose of scheduling an inspection by contacting  John Sainval at (954) 519-1229 (jsainval@broward.org) or Valerie Phipps at (954) 519-1203 (vphipps@broward.org) or Brenda Rivera at (954) 519-1432 (brivera@broward.org) at least forty-eight (48) hours prior to the start of the construction, closure or modification activity. 

Post Construction Activity

• Within thirty (30) days after completing the storage tank installation, replacement, or upgrade modification, the following items are required to be submitted to EPD:
• Signed, sealed, and dated Engineer's "As-built" or "Record" plans/drawings from the Professional Engineer. These drawings will be reviewed and compared against previously submitted engineering plans and must contain items that have been installed or modified under the approved License modification.
• Storage tank and piping tightness tests, line leak detector test, Stage I and Stage II Vapor Recovery System Certification tests (such as pressure decay, dynamic backpressure, Pressure-Vacuum vent valve and A/L ratio tests) when applicable, from the certified testing company.
• The Underground Storage Tank System Installation and Removal Form for Certified Contractors, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) Form 62-761.900(5) from the PSSC.
• Upon receipt of the above documents, EPD will review and issue a storage tank Operating Approval letter to the storage tank owner/operator. 
  

​Post Closure Activity

• A Storage Tank System Closure Assessment Report or Instructions for Conducting Sampling During Underground or Aboveground Storage Tank Closure or a Limited Closure Summary Report, July 2019 Edition, is required to be submitted to EPD within sixty (60) days after the storage tank system closure, replacement, or upgrade modification activity.  Follow this link to view the above report forms and requirements.
• Upon receipt of the above document, EPD will review it and issue a follow-up response letter to the storage tank owner/operator and consultant regarding further environmental remedial action as required. 
  

Aboveground Storage Tank (AST) Systems Construction Guidelines:

• All AST and aboveground piping material storing flammable or combustible products shall be constructed of steel, metallic or non-metallic materials as allowed in accordance with NFPA 30 & 30A.  ASTs containing non-flammable/combustible materials may be made from non-metallic materials, installed and used in accordance with the manufacturer's specifications or approved by the EPD or FDEP. Underground piping shall be constructed of fiberglass reinforced plastic (FRP), cathodically protected metal, or other EPD or FDEP approved material and be secondarily contained.
• ​The maximum storage capacity limitation, setbacks, and location for flammable or combustible products must comply with the Broward County Local Amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention Code. Click here to find the Broward County Local Amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention Code may be viewed at the following website.
• ​ASTs must be constructed within secondary containment. The secondary containment must be 110% of the volume of the largest tank within the diked area. The secondary containment structure must be sealed to ensure that it meets the permeable leak rate requirements of 1x10-7 cm/sec or less. Secondary containment concrete structures must meet ACI International construction standards or an equivalent method as prescribe by the code.  Approved double-walled tanks with 360o containment are considered secondarily contained.
• An AST cannot be used or reused as a UST, or a UST cannot be used or reused as an AST unless it is recertified for use by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Florida, or by the manufacturer.
• The release detection system used must be of the manual or electronic type and located to monitor within the interstitial tank walls or the lowest point within the secondary containment system as referenced in the storage tank rules of Chapter 62-762 F.A.C and Chapter 27, Article X Broward County Code.
• Monitoring well release detection systems must be installed for storage tank systems that are located inside Zones 1, 2 or 3 of a public water supply Wellfield in accordance with Article XIII, Wellfield Protection of Chapter 27 Broward County Code. The location and construction requirements of these wells must be determined by the EPD Wellfield Protection Section.
• Gasoline storage tanks vent pipes must extend to 12' (feet) above finish grade and be equipped with pressure-vacuum vent relief valves.
• Shop fabricated and field erected tanks must have spill containment and overfill prevention systems with automatic shut off, high level alarm or other EPD or FDEP approved method as required.
• Field erected ASTs containing pollutants must be designed in accordance with API Standard 620; API Standard 650; API Specification 12B or API Specification 12D or other reference standards as prescribed by the code.
• Steel tanks in contact with soil shall have cathodic protection in accordance with API RP 651 and NACE RP-01193-93 and other reference standards as prescribe by the code.

Underground Storage Tank (UST) Systems Construction Guidelines:

• UST systems must be installed by a Certified Pollutant Storage System Contractor (PSSC).
  
• All USTs must have secondary containment and be constructed of cathodically protected steel, Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic, Fiberglass Reinforced Clad Steel, or other material approved by EPD or FDEP. Single walled tanks installed inside an approved synthetic liner are acceptable but not recommended.
• An UST cannot be used or reused as an AST, or an AST cannot be used or reused as an UST unless it is recertified for use by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Florida, or by the manufacturer.
• Secondary containment synthetic membrane liner material must be approved by the EPD and FDEP and constructed to meet the permeable rate of 1x10-7 cm/sec or less.  Minimum thickness of 30 mil thick liners required.
• Steel coated tanks must be constructed in accordance with UL-58, UL-1746, STI ACT100 or other reference standards as prescribed by the code.
• The maximum storage capacity limitation, setbacks, and location for flammable or combustible products must comply with the Broward County Local Amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention Code. Click here to view the Broward County Local Amendments to the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
• Monitoring well release detection systems are required for tank systems located inside Zone 1, 2, or 3 of a public water supply well in accordance with the Wellfield Protection Ordinance Article XIII, Chapter 27 Broward County Code. The location and construction requirements of these wells must be determined by the EPD Wellfield Protection Section.
• The release detection system used must be of the manual or electronic type and located to monitor within the interstitial tank walls or the lowest point within the secondary containment system as referenced in the storage tank rules of Chapter 62-761 Florida Administrative Code and Chapter 27, Article X Broward County Code.
• Spill containment and overfill prevention systems with automatic shut off, high level alarm or other E​PD or FDEP approved method must be installed as required.
• Line leak detectors must be installed on pressurized piping systems and upstream of the integral piping to be protected (at the submersible pump outlet) or as per manufacturer's instructions.
• A shear valve or emergency shutoff valve must be installed and anchored at the base of the dispenser for pressurized integral piping system.
  
• Vapor return, vent, and suction product piping must slope at least 1/8" per li​near foot back to the UST. Vapor and vent pipe diameter must be 2" minimum.
• Gasoline storage tanks vent pipes must extend to 12' (feet) above finish grade and be equipped with pressure-vacuum vent relief valves.
• A shear valve is not required under suction pumps located at the dispenser.
• Dispenser sumps or liners must be placed underneath dispensers.
  

Contact

For further information, contact John Sainval at (954) 519-1229 (jsainval@broward.org) or Valerie Phipps at (954) 519-1203 (vphipps@broward.org) or Brenda Rivera at (954) 519-1432 (brivera@broward.org).​

Reference Standard

References to documents listed in (a) through (o) below are made throughout both E​PD and FDEP tank rules. Each document or part thereof is adopted and incorporated as a standard only to the extent that it is specifically referenced in these rules. All standards are available for review at Government Center West, 1 N University Drive, Plantation, Florida.