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

Erosion control flows from the same statute as stormwater, the Stormwater Management and Sediment Reduction Act. The Act defines a land disturbing activity broadly, so clearing, grubbing, and grading fall within it. Sites disturbing one acre or more, or smaller lots in a common plan of development, must obtain the state construction general permit and follow a Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan with silt fences, sediment basins, stabilized entrances, and inlet protection kept in place until the ground is permanently stabilized. In the flat, sandy Lowcountry, tidal creeks and wetlands sit close to construction, so sediment that escapes reaches the Ashley River and its marshes fast. Controls must be installed before disturbance and maintained after every rain.