Calvert County, MD Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Chapter 38 of the Code of Calvert County, the Calvert County Grading, Erosion and Sediment Control Ordinance adopted March 15, 2016 by Ordinance No. 07-16, applies under § 38-5 to the disturbance, development and use of all land within the unincorporated county, and states plainly that no development may be undertaken without prior authorization under the chapter, with grading also subject to Chapter 104's road standards. The Calvert Soil Conservation District (the District) reviews and approves Erosion and Sediment Control Plans before Inspections and Permits, part of the County's Department of Community Planning and Building, can issue a grading or building permit, per § 38-13; applications must include an owner block, job location, contractor information and, for commercial, industrial, subdivision or large grading projects, a registered engineer's or land surveyor's certification.

Section 38-7 exempts certain small or agricultural activities, most notably clearing or grading that disturbs less than 5,000 square feet of land and less than 100 cubic yards of earth, so long as it does not direct runoff to highly erodible soils or steep slopes and is not tied to new single-family construction; exemptions still require an application to the District and Inspections and Permits, which issues a grading permit exemption that must be posted on site. Permits expire two years after issuance under § 38-13(B) unless renewed, and issuance requires a performance bond equal to 125% of the cost to install, maintain and remove the erosion controls under § 38-14, plus a separate maintenance bond equal to 10% of construction cost.