Environmental Complaints

You can report Environmental Complaints to the Division of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) complaint desk at 305-372-6955 24 hours a day, 7 days a week or by emailing [email protected]. You may also report environment complaints online.

To investigate your complaint, DERM will need an address or the most accurate location information possible. Photos and videos will also greatly help.

Florida Statute 125.69 requires that a code inspector only proceed to investigate an anonymous complaint if the code inspector determines, based only on the information from the complaint, that the violation reported presents an imminent threat to the public health, safety or welfare or imminent destruction of habitat or sensitive resources. If a code inspector does not have enough information or determines that the information provided does not indicate an imminent threat, then the anonymous complaint will not be investigated.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you understand that your complaint will not be investigated if the code inspector determines they do not have enough information or that the information provided does not indicate an imminent threat.

If you do not want to remain anonymous, an investigation can proceed regardless of whether there is an imminent threat, but you must provide both your name and address.

Report the following to DERM:

• Chemical / drums, buckets or containers on right of ways
• Any spill or discharge to the environment of suspected hazardous waste including gasoline, waste oil and other automotive fluids
• Liquid discharges or spills into storm drains, waterways, or onto the open ground
• Sewage overflows to the outside of buildings
• Garbage (food waste) placed on pavement or ground (not in a proper receptacle)
• Fish/bird kills (numbering more than 50 in one general location)
• Dead animals on private property. Waste on ground from slaughterhouses
• Smoke/dust emissions from any facility
• Spray-painting outside of a paint booth using spray gun and compressor
• Non-agricultural open burning (not fires used for cooking). Call Miami-Dade Fire Rescue first
• Turbid (cloudy) discharges in any waterway, canal or Biscayne Bay
• Any dredging or filling in bay / lakes / wetlands
• Removal, cutting or hat-racking of trees
• Removal, cutting or trimming of mangroves in coastal areas
• Violations related to the fertilizer ordinance

Other concerns not investigated by DERM:

• Damage to coral reefs
• Flood or drainage complaints: contact the Stormwater Utility information phone line at 305-372-6688 or email [email protected]
• Contact 311 for the following:
  
  • Abandoned houses
  • Abandoned swimming pools
  • Animal waste, odors; care of animals
  • Animal infestation (such as rats and bees)
  • Beach maintenance/seaweed in County parks
  • Dead animals on the right-of-way
  • Lake Maintenance
  • Mosquito control
  • Odor from trucks
  • Overgrown lots
  • Solid waste dumping
  • Storm drain maintenance
  • Work in a residence including mechanical repairs
    
    
• Contact the Florida Department of Health at 850-245-4288 for the following:
  • Odors inside buildings
  • Mold
    
    
• Dead or injured wildlife – Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: 888-404-3922
• Noise – Miami-Dade Police Department: 305-476-5423
• Pesticide applications – Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: 850-617-7880