Alabama law and ADEM regulations require erosion and sediment control on construction sites statewide, mandating Best Management Practices, certified personnel, and routine inspections for any earth disturbance under NPDES permit coverage.
Alabama's erosion control framework derives from Code §22-22A and ADEM Admin Code Chapter 335-6-12. Operators of land disturbance one acre or larger must install perimeter silt fencing, sediment traps, stabilized construction entrances, and seed or mulch disturbed areas within 13 days of inactivity. Plans must be prepared by Qualified Credentialed Professionals (QCPs) and inspections performed by Qualified Credentialed Inspectors (QCIs) certified through the Alabama Soil and Water Conservation Committee. Local ordinances commonly mirror state thresholds but cannot exempt sites that meet ADEM acreage triggers.
Discharging sediment off-site or skipping inspections risks ADEM enforcement, daily penalties, and stop-work orders.
See how Lee County's erosion control rules stack up against other locations.
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