Rainwater harvesting is encouraged in DeKalb County under the Georgia Water Stewardship Act. Residential rain barrels require no permit; larger cisterns and potable reuse follow plumbing code.
Georgia encourages rainwater harvesting as part of the 2010 Water Stewardship Act. DeKalb County places no restriction on residential rain barrels or small cistern systems used for garden irrigation and non-potable outdoor use. Larger engineered cistern systems tied into irrigation networks or used for indoor non-potable (toilet flushing) purposes must comply with the Georgia Plumbing Code (adopted statewide) and may require a plumbing permit. Potable reuse requires treatment meeting Georgia EPD drinking-water standards. HOAs in Dunwoody, Brookhaven, and elsewhere may regulate visible placement of rain barrels. DeKalb Watershed Management periodically offers rain-barrel discounts and stormwater best-management outreach.
Standard rain-barrel use: no penalty. Unpermitted large cistern installations: $100 to $500 plumbing-code citation plus required permit. Potable cross-connection: immediate correction order.
DeKalb County, GA
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DeKalb County, GA
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DeKalb County, GA
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DeKalb County, GA
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DeKalb County, GA
Recreational vehicles and trailers in residential zones of unincorporated DeKalb County are subject to zoning ordinance (Ch. 27) standards. Long-term RV stor...
DeKalb County, GA
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See how DeKalb County's rainwater harvesting rules stack up against other locations.
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