Allegheny County, PA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies when
- municipality has no grading ordinance
- Erosion plan review
- Allegheny County Conservation District
- NPDES permit
- required for sites 1+ acre
- Max graded slope
- 2:1, steeper needs engineering
Summary
When a municipality has no grading ordinance of its own, Allegheny County's subdivision code sets fallback grading standards, requiring an ACCD-reviewed erosion control plan before any earth disturbance begins.
If the municipality in which a proposed subdivision or land development is located has enacted a grading ordinance, the municipal standards shall apply. ... If the municipality has no applicable regulations, the following general standards shall apply. ... A soil erosion and sedimentation pollution control plan shall be prepared ... and where required, a finding of adequacy shall be issued by the Allegheny County Conservation District (ACCD) prior to the commencement of any grading or other regulated earth disturbance activity.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4857026; v12 updated 2024-06-04; through 06-04-2024).
Full Breakdown
Grading tied to a subdivision or land development follows the municipality's own grading ordinance if one exists; Allegheny County's general standards under §780-503 apply only as a fallback. Either way, a soil erosion and sedimentation pollution control plan under 25 Pa. Code Chapter 102 needs an adequacy finding from the Allegheny County Conservation District before earth disturbance starts, and sites of one acre or more need a DEP NPDES permit (PAG-2), processed through the ACCD. County fallback standards also cap graded slopes at 2:1 and require reforestation of cut/fill slopes 40 feet or taller.
Violations & Fines
Grading without required municipal or county approval, or without the ACCD erosion-control adequacy finding, can block final subdivision approval; Chapter 780 violations carry a civil judgment up to $500 per day under §780-109.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Allegheny County have its own grading permit rules?
Is an erosion control plan required for grading in the county?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Allegheny County
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