Houston County, GA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing article
- County Code §§ 30-61 to 30-67
- Permit required
- erosion, sedimentation, pollution control plan
- BMP standard
- state Manual for Erosion and Sediment Control in Georgia
- Trout stream buffer
- 50 ft primary, 25 ft secondary (variance floor)
- Inspectors
- county engineer (commercial/subdivisions), chief building official (residential)
- First violation
- written warning, 5 days to correct before stop-work order
Summary
Houston County requires a land-disturbing permit with an approved erosion, sedimentation, and pollution control plan for most grading, clearing, or excavation under Code § 30-61 et seq. Enforcement runs through stop-work orders and permit revocation, with the county engineer and chief building official inspecting sites.
Soil erosion, sedimentation and pollution control measures and practices shall conform to the minimum requirements of section 30-64(b) and (c) of this article. The application of measures and practices shall apply to all features of the site, including street and utility installations, drainage facilities and other temporary and permanent improvements. Measures shall be installed to prevent or control erosion, sedimentation and pollution during all stages of any land-disturbing activity in accordance with requirements of this article and the NPDES general permit.(b)Minimum requirements/BMPs.(1)Best management practices as set forth in section 30-64(b) and (c) of this article shall be required for all land-disturbing activities.
Full Breakdown
§ 12-7-1 et seq. Section 30-64(a) requires that any land-disturbing activity not specifically exempted carry an approved erosion, sedimentation, and pollution control plan applying best management practices to all features of the site, including street and utility installations and drainage facilities. ' Exemptions in § 30-63 include home gardening and landscaping, and single-family construction disturbing less than an acre outside a larger common plan of development, though even exempt single-family lots near trout streams must keep a buffer of at least 50 horizontal feet from primary trout waters, with no variance allowed, or 25 feet from secondary trout waters, with a variance floor of 25 feet at the director's discretion.
Inspection duties are split under § 30-66: the county engineer inspects commercial lots and general subdivision development, while the chief building official inspects individual residential building lots; both may enter property at reasonable times to investigate. Refusing entry to an authorized inspector is itself treated as a compliance failure under the same section.
Violations & Fines
Section 30-67 lays out an enforcement ladder distinct from the general Code penalty: working without the required land-disturbing permit exposes the violator to revocation of a business license or other work authorization. For a first or second violation, the director or local issuing authority issues a written warning giving five days to fix the problem before a stop-work order follows; a third or later violation, or any violation posing an imminent threat to public health or state waters, or any unpermitted activity, draws an immediate stop-work order instead, staying in force until corrective action is complete.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to grade my land in Houston County?
What happens the first time I violate the erosion control ordinance?
Who inspects erosion control compliance in Houston County?
Is there a required buffer near trout streams?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Houston County
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