Jackson, MS Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Plan required above
- 2,000 sq ft of grading/earthwork
- State permit above
- 5 acres disturbed (MDEQ permit)
- Design standard
- MDEQ Erosion, Sediment & Stormwater Manual
- Enforcing office
- Dept. of Public Works
- Max penalty
- $1,000 fine or 90 days jail
Summary
Grading or earthwork disturbing more than 2,000 square feet but less than five acres in Jackson requires an erosion and sediment control plan as part of the site's stormwater management plan; disturbances of five acres or more instead need a state stormwater construction general permit from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality before construction starts.
As part of the stormwater management plan, an erosion and sediment control plan shall be required prior to any grading or other earthwork which affects a land area larger than 2,000 square feet, but less than five acres. In the case where the development exceeds five acres, a water pollution control stormwater construction general permit from the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality shall be required. A copy of the approved permit shall be submitted to the department of public works prior to construction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 55).
Full Breakdown
Sec. 122-305(g) of the city's stormwater quality protection article requires an erosion and sediment control plan before any grading or other earthwork that affects more than 2,000 square feet but less than five acres. The location and type of every erosion and sediment control measure must be shown graphically on the plans, with enough detail for the department of public works to confirm proper installation and maintenance during construction, and the plan's maintenance note must address minimizing sediment encroachment into storm drain appurtenances, public streets and private property until pavement or landscaping is established.
All measures must meet or exceed the methods in the state's 'Planning and Design Manual for the Control of Erosion, Sediment and Stormwater,' available through the Mississippi Department of Environmental Quality. Where a project disturbs five acres or more, the developer must instead obtain a water pollution control stormwater construction general permit from MDEQ and file a copy of the approved permit with the department of public works before construction begins. Residential building permit applicants face a parallel, lighter-weight duty under Sec. 122-306: their stormwater management plan must address the erosion and sediment control measures needed to protect adjacent property and identify postconstruction drainage patterns, including the direction of flow where swales are used. The director of public works or a designee can inspect any regulated property to check compliance under Sec. 122-307.
Violations & Fines
A violation of the erosion and sediment control requirements in Article IV is a misdemeanor under Sec. 122-308, punishable by a fine of up to $1,000.00 or up to 90 days in jail, or both, for each offense, with every day of continued violation counted separately. The director of public works can also order an immediate stop to any construction that violates the article, and the city may pursue a civil action in addition to criminal penalties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need an erosion control plan for a small residential addition in Jackson?
When does a project need a state erosion permit instead of a city plan?
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Jackson
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