Certification by professionals regulated by the Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

(1) Nothing in this section shall be construed as specific authority for a water management district or the department to require certification by a professional engineer licensed under chapter 471, a professional landscape architect licensed under part II of chapter 481, a professional geologist licensed under chapter 492, or a professional surveyor and mapper licensed under chapter 472, for an activity that is not within the definition or scope of practice of the regulated profession.

(2) If an application for a permit or license to conduct an activity regulated under this chapter, chapter 373, chapter 376, or any permitting program delegated to a water management district by a state agency, or to undertake corrective action of such activity or program ordered by the department or a water management district, requires the services of a professional as enumerated in subsection (1), the department or governing board of a water management district may require, by rule, in conjunction with such an application or any submittals required as a condition of granting a permit or license, or in conjunction with the order of corrective action, such certification by the professional as is necessary to ensure that the proposed activity or corrective action is designed, constructed, operated, and maintained in accordance with applicable law and rules of the department or district and in conformity with proper and sound design principles, or other such certification by the professional as may be necessary to ensure compliance with applicable law or rules of the department or district. The department or governing board of a water management district may further require as a condition of granting a permit or license, or in conjunction with ordering corrective action that the professional certify upon completion of the permitted or licensed activity or corrective action that such activity or corrective action has, to the best of his or her knowledge, been completed in substantial conformance with the plans and specifications approved by the department or board.

(3) The cost of such certifications by the professional shall be borne by the permittee or the person ordered to correct the permitted activity.

(4) A permitted or licensed activity or corrective action that is required to be so certified upon completion of the activity or action may not be placed into use or operation until the professional’s certificate is filed with the department or board.