Florence County, SC Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Section 9.5-1(a) states the article's purpose in erosion-specific terms: it exists to protect the county's lands and waters from the effects of excessive soil erosion and sedimentation, to prevent siltation of streams and lakes, clogging of drainage channels, flood damage and damage to adjacent landowners' property. That purpose is carried out through Article III, Plan and Application, where § 9.5-51 requires every stormwater management and sediment control plan to be sealed by a qualified design professional, registered engineer, landscape architect or Tier B land surveyor, and to follow the erosion and sediment control best management practices set out in the county's Stormwater Design Manual and DHEC's BMP Handbook.

Inspection is where the erosion-control standard becomes concrete. Section 9.5-34(b) defines 'qualified personnel' for any project disturbing more than one acre as a person knowledgeable in erosion and sediment control principles who can assess site conditions that could affect stormwater quality and judge whether the chosen sediment and erosion control measures are working. That person must be the SWPPP's preparer, someone under that preparer's direct supervision, or a state-certified construction site inspector. The Engineering Division notifies the responsible party in writing of any violation found, describing the nature of the problem, the corrective action required and the deadline for fixing it, and can issue a written stop-work order when off-site sedimentation is damaging a lake, waterway or neighboring land.

Violating the erosion and sediment control requirements carries the same civil exposure as any other breach of the article, up to $1,000.00 per violation under § 9.5-35, with misdemeanor penalties layered on top for negligent, willful or intentional violations.