Environmental Rules in Forsyth County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Forsyth County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Forsyth County bans dumping anything but stormwater into its municipal storm sewer system and requires a land development permit and an approved stormwater management plan before any site disturbs new ground. Code of Ordinances § 34-187(a) makes an illicit discharge unlawful outright, and § 34-190 backs it with fines up to $1,000 a day plus misdemeanor prosecution.
Forsyth County Stormwater Discharge Rules
Some RestrictionsForsyth County, GA, Code of Ordinances §§ 34-187(a), 34-190(3)
(a)It is unlawful for any person to throw, drain, run or otherwise discharge to any component of the county's municipal separate storm sewer system or to cause, permit or suffer to be thrown, drained, run, or allow to seep or otherwise discharge into such system all matter of any nature excepting only such stormwater or surface water as authorized in this article. ... A violation of this articl...
Erosion Control
Forsyth County requires a land-disturbing activity permit before any grading begins, backed by the county's Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance. Applicants pay a state fee capped at $80 per disturbed acre plus a $3,000-to-$5,000-per-acre performance bond, and projects must hold at least a 25-foot undisturbed buffer along state waters, 50 feet along trout streams.
Forsyth County Erosion Control Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsForsyth County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 34-35(b)(1), (4), (6)
(1)No person shall conduct any land-disturbing activity within the jurisdictional boundaries of Forsyth County without first obtaining a permit from Forsyth County to perform such activity...(4)In addition to the local permitting fees and plan review fees, fees will also be assessed pursuant to O.C.G.A. § 12-5-23(a)(5)(B), provided that such fees shall not exceed $80.00 per acre of land-disturb...
Flood Zones
No one may disturb land or build within Forsyth County's FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area without a floodplain development permit and an engineer-stamped management plan. Chapter 46, Article II bans any project that would raise the base flood elevation by even 0.01 foot, and violators face misdemeanor prosecution plus daily penalties for as long as the violation continues.
Forsyth County Floodplain Development Permit
Significant RestrictionsForsyth County, GA, Code of Ordinances §§ 46-61, 46-73(1)(a), 46-103
(1)No owner or developer shall perform any development activities on a site where a SFHA is located without first meeting the requirements of this article.(2)Unless specifically excluded by this article, any landowner or developer desiring a permit for a development activity shall submit to the director of planning and community development a permit application on a form provided by the departm...
Flood Elevation Requirements
New construction and substantial improvements inside Forsyth County's special flood hazard area must set the lowest floor, including any basement, at least three feet above the base flood elevation, or one foot above the future-conditions flood elevation if that is higher, under County Code section 46-83. The Department of Engineering administers the standard.
Forsyth County Flood Elevation Standard
Some RestrictionsForsyth County, GA, Code of Ordinances § 46-83(1)
(1)Residential buildings. New construction and substantial improvements of all residential structures shall not be allowed within the limits of the future-conditions floodplain unless all requirements of sections 46-73, 46-74, and 46-75 have been met. If all of the requirements of sections 46-73, 46-74, and 46-75 have been met, all new construction and substantial improvements shall have the lo...
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