Effingham County, GA Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)

Effingham County Code § 30-305(a) applies the county's post-construction stormwater management article to new development or redevelopment that creates 5,000 square feet or more of impervious cover, involves one acre or more of land-disturbing activity, is part of a larger common plan of development regardless of size, or creates or modifies a stormwater hotspot. Section 30-305(b) exempts individual residential lots not part of a larger common plan, additions to existing single-family homes and duplexes below those thresholds, and projects undertaken exclusively for agricultural or silvicultural purposes on land zoned for that use.

Under § 30-326, an owner or developer must submit a stormwater management concept plan, a design plan, an inspection and maintenance agreement, applicable review fees under §§ 30-331 and 30-332, and a performance bond before undertaking covered development. Section 30-316 requires that the post-development peak runoff rate not exceed the predevelopment peak rate for the one through one-hundred-year, 24-hour storm events, with on-site detention required if calculations show an increase. Enforcement under § 30-373 requires a written notice of violation, appealable to the board of commissioners within ten days (24 hours for an imminent danger) under § 30-374.

Section 30-375 authorizes a stop-work order, withholding a certificate of occupancy, suspending the land-disturbance permit, civil penalties up to $1,000.00 per day of continued violation, and, for intentional and flagrant violations, criminal fines up to $1,000.00 and imprisonment up to 60 days.