Environmental Rules in Rockdale County, GA (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Rockdale County, Georgia.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Rockdale County regulates stormwater under County Code Chapter 310, banning any discharge of pollutants into the county's separate storm sewer system besides stormwater itself. New development or redevelopment that adds 5,000 square feet or more of impervious surface, or disturbs an acre or more of land, must meet the county's post-construction stormwater management standards before the stormwater director approves a permit.
Stormwater Rules in Rockdale County
Significant RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 310-14, 310-34
No person shall drain, discharge, cause, or otherwise allow to be discharged into the Rockdale County separate storm sewer system any pollutants or waters containing any pollutants, other than stormwater. ... New development that creates or adds 5,000 square feet or greater of new impervious surface area or that involves land disturbing activity of one acre of land or greater
Erosion Control
In unincorporated Rockdale County, disturbing one acre or more of land, or any part of a larger development plan reaching that threshold, requires a land-disturbing permit under County Code Chapter 306 before grading or clearing starts. The county's soil and water conservation district must approve an erosion, sedimentation and pollution control plan, and a 25-foot buffer protects the banks of state waters throughout construction.
Erosion Control Permits in Rockdale County
Significant RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 306-4
Excessive soil erosion and resulting sedimentation can take place during land-disturbing activities if requirements of the chapter and the NPDES General Permit are not met. Therefore, plans for those land-disturbing activities which are not exempted by this chapter shall contain provisions for application of soil erosion, sedimentation and pollution control measures and practices. ... there is ...
Flood Zones
Rockdale County's Chapter 320 Flood Damage Prevention ordinance bars new construction, fill or other development in a special flood hazard area if it would raise the base flood elevation by even 0.01 foot. The Department of Planning and Development, through its GIS manager acting as floodplain manager, must approve a permit before any development proceeds in a mapped floodplain in the unincorporated county.
Flood Zone Development Rules in Rockdale County
Heavy RestrictionsRockdale County Code § 320-4
No development shall be allowed within any area of special flood hazard or area of future-conditions flood hazard that could result in any of the following:a.Raising the base flood elevation or future-conditions flood elevation equal to or more than 0.01 foot; ... Encroachments are prohibited, including earthen fill, new construction, substantial improvements or other development within the reg...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Rockdale County, new residential construction in the future-conditions floodplain must have its lowest floor built at least three feet above the base flood elevation, or one foot above the future-conditions flood elevation if that number is higher. Nonresidential buildings need only one foot of freeboard, with a floodproofing alternative under Code § 320-5. The Department of Planning and Development enforces both standards through the county's floodplain permit process.
Rockdale County Flood Elevation & Freeboard Rules
Some RestrictionsRockdale County Code §§ 320-2, 320-5(b)(1)a
Base flood elevation means the highest water surface elevation anticipated at any given location during the base flood. ... New construction. ... New construction of principal residential structures shall not be allowed within the limits of the future-conditions floodplain unless all requirements of subsections 320-4(c), 320-4(d) and 320-4(e) have been met. If all of the requirements of subsect...
All Rockdale County ordinances
See every category we cover for Rockdale County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Rockdale County Ordinance Hub →