Jessamine County, KY Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Section 156.092 of the Jessamine County Code, part of the stormwater post-construction chapter adopted by Ord. passed 4-30-2013, is the county's stabilization rule for cleared ground. Any area from which natural vegetative cover has been partially or wholly cleared or removed by development activities must be revegetated within 14 days from the substantial completion of the clearing and construction.

Three criteria govern the work. Reseeding must use an annual or perennial cover crop with straw mulch or its equivalent, in enough coverage to control erosion until the cover crop is established over 90% of the seeded area. Replanting with native woody and herbaceous vegetation needs the same mulch protection until the plantings are established and can control erosion on their own. Any revegetated area must show survival of a minimum of 75% of the cover crop throughout the year immediately following revegetation, and revegetation must be repeated in successive years until the 75% survival for 1 year is achieved.

Other provisions in the chapter back this up. Under Section 156.081, the applicant must prepare an erosion and sediment control plan for all construction related to implementing on-site stormwater management practices. Where the Fiscal Court has not adopted its own BMP Manual, Section 156.005 points to the University of Kentucky Transportation Center publication on Best Management Practices for Controlling Erosion, Sediment, and Pollutant Runoff from Construction Sites. Section 156.062 requires conveyance designs that eliminate erosive flow velocities.

Inspection is built into construction. The applicant must notify the Planning Commission staff before construction begins, staff conduct and document regular inspections, and under Section 156.090 no added work proceeds until violations are corrected and prior work is approved. The chapter applies to construction disturbing 1 or more acre, and logging and agricultural activity consistent with an approved soil conservation plan or timber management plan can be exempt.