Lynchburg, VA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Adopted by Ordinance No. O-24-079 on October 22, 2024 under authority of Va. 1, the Erosion and Stormwater Management Ordinance, applies to all construction activities occurring in the city unless a specific exemption applies (Sec. 1-1). The environmental planner in the city's department of community development administers the program (Sec. 1-3). Regulation kicks in at a low threshold: any land-disturbing activity of 1,000 square feet or more that is not part of a larger common plan of development is regulated under Sec. 1-4(a)(i), and larger sites of 5,000 square feet, one acre, or more face additional stormwater management and erosion and sediment control plan requirements.

Under Sec. 1-6(a), no one may begin land-disturbing work until the environmental planner has issued a land-disturbance approval, though minor activities like home gardens, individual landscaping, and utility service line repairs on existing hard-surfaced roads are exempt. Applicants pay permit fees set out in a table under Sec. 00 for larger sites up to and over 100 acres, plus separate annual permit maintenance fees and modification fees. Before any approval issues, Sec. 1-19 requires the applicant to post a performance bond, cash escrow, or letter of credit so the city can complete unfinished corrective work at the applicant's expense.

The environmental planner enforces the program with written notices, stop-work orders, and even emergency orders halting work immediately if a violation is causing substantial erosion or water-quality harm, under Sec. 1-17.