QHRRP 5000-131

Drainage and Lot Grading

 

Review/update responsibility
 Architectural Review Board (ARB)
Revision
 18 Mar 2026 (CH1)
Reference
 CCRE Article V

Florida Statute 720.3035
Drainage
 The owner and their contractor are responsible for establishing and maintaining positive drainage and following the approved drainage plan for Queen’s Harbour (the plan is available at the POA Office). Plans must include the drainage pattern to be established on the lot for both new construction and major landscape renovations.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection, The City of Jacksonville, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the St. John’s River Water Management District have special front and rear drainage requirements. The ARB requirement to save trees and preserve plant materials shall not preclude providing positive drainage. Tree wells may be built to preserve trees with the approval of the ARB.

Temporary swales and other sediment control must be installed to reduce run off during construction. No water drainage is to be diverted to adjoining lots.
Swales
 A swale is a shallow channel with gently sloping sides usually to prevent drainage from going into the lagoon, street or adjacent property. A permanent swale is required in the front of lots on streets that do not have curbs and gutters and on the rear of all lots adjacent to the lagoon or retention ponds.

See Sample Swale.
Lot grading
 Use the below chart to determine lot grading responsibilities…

The… is responsible to…
lot owner ensure his/her lot is graded in accordance with the approved plans and permits for the Queen’s Harbour unit in which the lot is situated. Lot grading has been specified in the approved plans and permits to conform to requirements of the City of Jacksonville Public Works Department and the St. John’s River Water Management District. The owner/applicant should consult with the POA or ARB to identify specific lot grading and stormwater needs for each lot.
builder
  • ensure during house construction that lot grading is in accordance with the approved plans and permits.
  • obtain existing “as-built” elevations for the segment of roadside swale impacted by the new construction and to conform the driveway, sidewalk, and swale he/she builds to achieve positive drainage.

Note:  Prior to clearing and grading of any site in the Lagoon or adjacent to any water body, the contractor shall install silt screens/hay bales to minimize siltation/turbidity. These silt screens shall remain in place until all sodding/landscaping is complete.  See QHRRP 5000-212 (Silt Screens).
Help
 If you have any questions, please contact the ARB Coordinator at 904.221.8859 or email ARBcoord@qhycc.com.