A person who applies for a septic system construction permit in Charlotte County, Florida, but cannot meet the requirements of the rule or statute, will have their permit denied and may request a variance from the standards.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is authorized to grant septic variances in Charlotte County, Florida, when it is satisfied that:

• The hardship was not caused intentionally by the action of the applicant
• There is no reasonable alternative, taking into consideration factors such as cost, no reasonable alternative exists for the treatment of the sewage
• The discharge from the onsite sewage treatment and disposal system will not adversely affect the health of the applicant or the public or significantly degrade the groundwater or surface waters

Applicants must complete and submit page one of the Application for Variance from Chapter 62-6, FAC (DEP 4057) and pay a fee to DOH-Charlotte to process their request.

For a single-family residential variance request, the fee is $300. For a single-family residential variance request for an entire subdivision, the fee is $300 regardless of the number of lots affected. For multi-family or commercial variance requests, the fee is $400. 

DOH-Charlotte's Environmental Public Health will review the variance application, complete page two of the Variance from Chapter 62-6, FAC (DEP 4057), and submit it to the Bureau of Onsite Sewage Programs of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).

Variance applicants must allow at least a week for DOH-Charlotte's Environmental Public Health to review and submit the application to DEP. The application must be received by DEP no later than the 15th of each month (or the next working day after the 15th) to be placed on the agenda for the next monthly meeting of DEP's OSTDS Variance Review and Advisory Committee. Variance board meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month. 

For questions regarding the variance application and fees, contact DOH-Charlotte's Environmental Public Health. For questions regarding DEP's OSTDS Variance Review and Advisory Committee, send an email to DEP's Onsite Sewage Variance Program at OSP_Variance@FloridaDEP.gov.