Troup County, GA Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Community Development Department
- Permit fee cap
- $80 per disturbed acre
- Bond cap
- $3,000 per acre
- Standard stream buffer
- 25 feet
- Trout stream buffer
- 50 feet
- Penalty
- up to $2,500 per day
Summary
Troup County's Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Ordinance requires a land-disturbance permit from the Community Development Department before most construction disturbs the ground in the unincorporated county, with 25-to-50-foot stream buffers and civil penalties up to $2,500 per day for violations.
Title. This section will be known as the "Troup County Soil Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Ordinance." ... No person shall conduct any land disturbing activity within the jurisdictional boundaries of Troup County without first obtaining a permit from the Community Development Department to perform such activity and providing a copy of notice of intent submitted to EPD if applicable. ... Monetary penalties. Any person who violates any provisions of this article, or any permit condition or limitation established pursuant to this article, or who negligently or intentionally fails or refuses to comply with any final or emergency order of the Community Development Director issued as provided in this article shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $2,500.00 per day.
Full Breakdown
Section 3.10(2) exempts agriculture, forestry harvesting, NRCS-supervised projects, DOT and utility road or line work, surface mining, and minor home landscaping, plus single-family construction disturbing under one acre outside a larger common plan of development and most projects under one acre away from state waters. For everything else, Sec. 3.11(7) requires an application to the Community Development Department with an erosion, sedimentation and pollution control plan, three copies, and certification that the plan preparer visited the site; fees run up to $80 per disturbed acre (Sec.
3.11(7)(c)), the soil and water conservation district must review the plan within 35 days or it is deemed approved, and the local issuing authority may require a bond up to $3,000 per acre (Sec. 3.11(7)(f)). Buffers are numeric: Sec. 3.11(3)(o) sets a 25-foot buffer along state waters where no land disturbance may occur until the site is stabilized, and Sec. 3.11(3)(p) sets a 50-foot buffer along trout streams, with the Community Development Director able to grant a variance down to 25 feet only for secondary trout waters.
Enforcement escalates under Sec. 3.11(11)(b): a first or second violation gets a written warning with five business days to correct, while a third violation, an imminent threat, or unpermitted work triggers an immediate stop-work order. Appeals go to the Troup County Building Board of Adjustments and Appeals within 30 days, then to the Superior Court of Troup County (Sec. 3.11(13)).
Violations & Fines
Disturbing land without a permit can cost a violator their business license or work permit under Sec. 3.11(11)(a); failing to properly design, install or maintain best management practices, or violating a stop-work order, draws civil penalties up to $2,500 per day under Sec. 3.11(11)(d), and the county can also forfeit any performance bond posted and use it to hire a contractor to fix the site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to clear land for construction in unincorporated Troup County?
How wide a buffer must I leave along a stream when disturbing land?
What can Troup County fine me for erosion control violations?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Troup County
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