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

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified September 2026

Key Facts

Applies to
Unincorporated Cobb County development
Design standard
Georgia Stormwater Management Manual
Control type
Structural and nonstructural required
Extra authority
Manager may require added controls

Summary

Unincorporated Cobb County requires stormwater management measures designed to the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual on qualifying development, combining structural and nonstructural controls to limit post-development runoff.

City-specific rules exist: Acworth has its own stormwater management rules that differ from Cobb County's county-level regulations. If you live in Acworth, check the city-specific page instead.

(a)Stormwater management measures may include both structural and nonstructural elements. Natural swales and other natural runoff conduits shall be retained where practicable.(1)Structural stormwater controls. All structural stormwater management facilities shall be selected and designed using the appropriate criteria from the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual. All structural stormwater controls must be designed appropriately to meet their intended function. For other structural stormwater controls not included in the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual, or for which pollutant removal rates have not been provided, the effectiveness and pollutant removal of the structural control must be documented through prior studies, literature reviews, or other means and receive approval from the manager before being included in the design of a stormwater management system. In addition, if hydrologic or topographic conditions, or land use activities warrant greater control than that provided by the minimum control requirements, the manager may impose additional requirements deemed necessary to protect upstream and downstream properties and aquatic resources from damage due to increased volume, frequency, and rate of stormwater runoff or increased nonpoint source pollution loads created on the site in question.

Source: Municode LibraryView official code

Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 53).

Full Breakdown

Code § 50-131 makes stormwater management measures mandatory, mixing structural and nonstructural elements and requiring natural swales and drainage conduits be retained where practicable. All structural stormwater controls must be selected and designed using Georgia Stormwater Management Manual criteria; alternative controls need documented pollutant-removal performance and manager approval. The manager may impose stricter conditions than the minimum standards where topography, hydrology, or land use warrant added protection for upstream and downstream properties.

Violations & Fines

Facilities built without required stormwater management measures violate the land disturbing permit; Code § 50-113 authorizes county enforcement, penalties, and corrective action against noncompliant stormwater management or maintenance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Cobb County require a stormwater management plan?
Yes - Code § 50-131 makes stormwater management measures mandatory for qualifying development, requiring designs that follow the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual and preserve natural drainage where practicable.
Can Cobb County require stricter stormwater controls than the minimum?
Yes - the manager may impose additional requirements when topography, hydrology, or land use create greater risk to upstream or downstream properties and waters.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cobb County

All Cobb County rules

Compare Cobb County to another location·View the Georgia environmental rules overview

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