Carroll County, GA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit
- Land-disturbance permit from Dept. of Community Development
- Exemption
- Single-family lots disturbing under 1 acre, standalone
- State fee cap
- $80 per acre disturbed
- Buffer
- 25 ft along state waters, 50 ft trout streams
- Bond
- Up to $3,000 per acre may be required
- Penalty
- Civil fine up to $2,500 per day
- Coverage
- Applies only in unincorporated Carroll County, Georgia
Summary
Unincorporated Carroll County requires a land-disturbance permit from the department of community development before any grading, clearing or excavation that is not exempt. Single-family homes disturbing less than one acre outside a larger development are exempt, but every other project must file an erosion, sedimentation and pollution control plan and pay a state fee capped at $80 per acre.
(1)No person shall conduct any land-disturbing activity within the jurisdictional boundaries of the county without first obtaining a permit from the department of community development to perform such activity and providing a copy of notice of intent submitted to EPD if applicable. ... (3)In addition to the local permitting fees, fees will also be assessed pursuant to O.C.G.A. 12-5-23(a)(5), provided that such fees shall not exceed $80.00 per acre of land-disturbing activity, and these fees shall be calculated and paid by the primary permittee as defined in the state general permit for each acre of land-disturbing activity included in the planned development or each phase of development.
Full Breakdown
Carroll County's Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Ordinance, codified at Chapter 38, Article II of the county code, governs land-disturbing activity across the unincorporated county only; Carrollton, Villa Rica, Temple, Bowdon, Whitesburg, Mount Zion and Roopville each enforce their own separate erosion codes inside city limits. ' The West Georgia Soil and Water Conservation District has 35 days to review the plan, and the county must approve or deny the completed application within 45 days; silence past those deadlines counts as approval. Along the banks of state waters the ordinance sets a minimum 25-foot undisturbed vegetative buffer, widened to 50 feet along designated trout streams, measured from where normal stream flow has worn away vegetation.
Beyond the state's $80-per-acre EPD assessment, the county may require a performance bond of up to $3,000 per acre before issuing the permit, which it can call and use to hire a contractor to stabilize a noncompliant site. Single-family home construction that disturbs less than one acre and is not part of a larger common plan of development is exempt, as are agricultural operations, forestry practices and most public road work. Applicants who have racked up two or more permit violations within the prior three years can be turned down outright.
Violations & Fines
A first or second violation draws a written warning with five days to correct it; failing that, or any violation involving unpermitted work, a threatened stream buffer, or sediment reaching state waters, triggers an immediate stop-work order under Section 38-12. A third violation brings an immediate stop-work order with no warning. Courts may impose a civil penalty of up to $2,500 per violation per day, and the county can forfeit any performance bond posted to fund site stabilization.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade land in unincorporated Carroll County?
Is building a new house on my own lot exempt from this ordinance?
What happens if I start work without a permit?
Does the county erosion ordinance apply inside Carrollton or Villa Rica?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Carroll County
Compare Carroll County to another location·View the Georgia environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.