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Campbell County, KY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Standard set
8 erosion/sediment control requirements
Exposed area rule
Smallest practical area, shortest time
Sediment control
Basins/silt traps required to catch runoff
Ground cover
Temporary vegetation/mulching on exposed critical areas
Reviewing body
County Planning & Zoning Commission
Penalty
Class B misdemeanor, per day (§154.999)

Summary

Any excavation or soil-moving project in unincorporated Campbell County must plan and apply erosion and sedimentation controls under § 154.042(C): minimizing exposed land, using temporary vegetation or mulching, and installing sediment basins to capture runoff during development.

These county ordinances apply to unincorporated areas of Campbell County. Incorporated cities within the county may have their own rules that take precedence over county-level regulations.

(C) Erosion and sedimentation control. Erosion and sedimentation controls for excavation, movement of soil, and time exposed, shall be planned and applied according to the following: (1) The smallest practical area of land shall be exposed at any one time during development. (2) When land is exposed during development, the exposure shall be kept to the shortest practical period of time. (3) Temporary vegetation and/or mulching shall be used to protect critical areas exposed during development. (4) Sediment basins (debris basins or silt traps) shall be installed and maintained to remove sediment from run-off waters from land undergoing development.

View official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-50: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ord. O-09-2026, passed 8-5-26; and Res. R-42-26, passed 7-15-26; and State legislation current through KRS Pamphlet 2025).

Full Breakdown

042(C) of the Campbell County Code of Ordinances requires that erosion and sedimentation controls for any excavation, soil movement, or exposed-land activity be planned and applied according to eight listed standards. Developers must expose the smallest practical area of land at any one time and keep any exposure to the shortest practical period. Temporary vegetation or mulching has to protect critical areas while they are exposed, and sediment basins, debris basins, or silt traps must be installed and maintained to catch sediment from runoff before it leaves the site.

The section also requires provisions for the increased runoff that changed soil and surface conditions produce during and after development, installation of permanent vegetation and structures as soon as practical, fitting the development to the site's topography and soils to minimize erosion potential, and retaining and protecting natural vegetation wherever feasible. 042(A), the Commission reviews erosion-control measures as part of that same permit application rather than through a separate erosion permit, and can withhold approval if a grading or clearing plan does not meet these eight standards.

Violations & Fines

Failing to plan or apply the required erosion and sedimentation controls violates Chapter 154 and is punishable under § 154.999 as a class B misdemeanor, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense; the Planning and Zoning Commission can also withhold or condition the excavation permit until the site complies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Campbell County require erosion control during construction?
Yes. Section 154.042(C) requires anyone excavating or moving soil to plan and apply erosion and sedimentation controls, including minimizing exposed land, using temporary vegetation or mulching, and installing sediment basins or silt traps to capture runoff.
Is there a separate permit just for erosion control?
No. Erosion and sedimentation control is reviewed under the same § 154.042 permit the County Planning and Zoning Commission issues for excavation, soil movement, and tree removal, not as a stand-alone approval.
What happens to runoff after my site is developed?
Section 154.042(C)(5) requires provisions to accommodate the increased runoff caused by the changed soil and surface conditions that development creates, and requires permanent vegetation and structures to be installed as soon as practical afterward.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Campbell County

All Campbell County rules

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