Rockdale County, GA Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required from
- Director of Public Services and Engineering
- Minimum bond
- $5,000; $20,000 if 5+ jobs/year
- Restoration deadline
- 30 days from start of work
- Application filed at
- County planning office
Summary
Cutting or excavating any Rockdale County right-of-way, road, street or sidewalk requires written permission from the director of public services and engineering under Rockdale County Code Sec. 82-2. Applicants submit a form to the planning office describing the work and must post a performance bond of at least $5,000.00 before starting, then restore the area within 30 days of beginning work.
No county right-of-way or county road, street or sidewalk shall be cut or excavated in any way except upon receiving written permission of the director of the department of public services and engineering or such other department head designated by the chairperson of the board of commissioners. An application shall be submitted to the planning office on a form provided by the county and contain but not be limited to an accurate description of the excavation to be done, the location of the excavation, and any additional information the county may designate. ... Prior to the commencement of the excavation and upon submission of his application, the applicant shall post a performance bond in an amount deemed appropriate by the director of the department of public services and engineering in relation to the excavation contemplated but in any event, not less than $5,000.00.
Full Breakdown
Sec. 82-2(a) bars anyone from cutting or excavating a county right-of-way, road, street or sidewalk without written permission from the director of the department of public services and engineering, or another department head the board chairperson designates. The application goes to the planning office and must describe the excavation and its location, plus any other information the county requires; the appropriate department head then reviews and grants or denies it. Before work starts, Sec. 00. Once excavation is done, Sec. 82-2(b) requires the applicant to restore the right-of-way, road, street or sidewalk to its original condition or better, including regrassing, within 30 days of starting the work, meeting the county's utility street cut standards and any applicable soil erosion and sediment control provisions.
The applicant must then notify the director under Sec. 82-2(c) so the county can inspect the restoration. The bond is released only after the county confirms proper completion and the applicant submits a written release request. Excavating without a permit, failing to complete the work as required, or failing the restoration inspection subjects the applicant to punishment under Sec. 1-11 for each day the violation continues.
Violations & Fines
Excavating a county right-of-way, road, street or sidewalk without written permission, or failing to restore it within 30 days, or failing the county's restoration inspection, is punishable under Sec. 1-11 for each day the violation continues, per Sec. 82-2(e). The applicant's performance bond, a minimum of $5,000.00 (or $20,000.00 for frequent excavators), is not released until the county confirms proper completion.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to cut into a Rockdale County sidewalk or road?
How big a bond does Rockdale County require for a street excavation permit?
How long do I have to restore the street after excavating in Rockdale County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rockdale County
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