Leon County, FL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Sec. 327(1) sets the county's construction-phase erosion rules within the broader topographic alteration standards of the Environmental Management Act. Installation of controls comes first: clearing, grading, cutting, or filling cannot begin until erosion and sedimentation control devices are properly installed per an approved plan between the disturbed area and adjacent property, waterbodies, watercourses (including inlets and culverts), and wetlands. Limited excavation to install those very devices is allowed within five feet of their approved location. Acceptable best management practices, chosen to fit site size, vegetative cover, soil type, slope, and construction sequencing, include limiting the area cleared at any one time, staging clearing to avoid leaving ground exposed longer than needed, temporary gravel construction entrances, straw bale barriers, silt fences, storm drain inlet protection, temporary diversion dikes, sediment traps and basins, temporary stream crossings, seeding, sodding, and erosion control mats.

Maintenance is a continuing duty: once installed, controls must be maintained under Sec. 210 until permanent vegetative ground cover is established, and any cleared area that sits idle for more than 30 days must be stabilized with appropriate ground cover in the meantime. All disturbed areas need permanent vegetative stabilization once development activity is complete.