EMERGENCY GENERATORS INSTEAD OF EQCB

Board of County Commissioners · 2026-07-21 · ordinance

Ordinance amending Miami-Dade County Code sections 24-5, 24-18, and 24-43 to authorize administrative approval of emergency generators for healthcare facilities and food stores within wellfield protection areas, subject to conditions, instead of requiring a public hearing before the Environmental Quality Control Board (EQCB). The ordinance was adopted on first reading on 7/21/2026 and forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners with a favorable recommendation following a public hearing on 9/9/2026. Second reading is scheduled for 10/6/2026. The scope is countywide. No negative fiscal impact is anticipated. Approximately eight variances were granted from 2020 to 2025 related to emergency generators for healthcare facilities within wellfield protection areas. Conditions include: property served by utility water and sanitary sewers; property located more than 30 days travel time from any utility potable water supply well; property not located within the Northwest Wellfield protection area or West Wellfield Interim protection area; property located within the Urban Development Boundary; fuels contained in an above-ground storage facility approved pursuant to section 24-15(5); secondary containment with double-walled tanks and piping; food store fuel not exceeding 1,500 gallons per facility; healthcare facility fuel not exceeding volume required by regulations; groundwater monitoring plan approved by the Director for tanks exposed to the environment; and an operating permit obtained pursuant to section 24-18. The ordinance also revises the definition of health care facilities to include doctor's offices and free standing emergency facilities.