Construction

Compliance & Violation Fines

It is the responsibility of individual homeowners, contractors, and developers to contact the Rome/Floyd County Inspection Department Erosion Control Enforcement Section to ensure compliance with local laws and federal regulations involving buffer areas, water quality, wetlands, and pollution prevention when engaging in a land-disturbing activity.

Failure to comply with requirements may result in a notice of violation, citation, stop-work order, and/or fines of up to $2,500 per day.

Best Management Practices

Erosion and sediment control measures are required on all sites regardless of the size of the project, including a single-family dwelling on an individual lot. Best Management Practices, or BMPs, are required and shall be installed prior to and concurrent with all land-disturbing activities. Before obtaining a building permit, an erosion and sediment control plan must be submitted to the Building Inspection Department. A sketch of the construction site along with proposed BMPs may also be required.

On sites larger than four-tenths of an acre, a stormwater management plan is required prior to obtaining a building permit. This plan must be approved by the public works director of either the City of Rome or Floyd County, depending on the location of the building activity.

State law defines a land-disturbing activity as "any activity which may result in soil erosion from water or wind and the movement of sediment into state waters or onto lands within the state, including but not limited to: clearing, grading excavation, dredging, transporting, and filling of land."

  • Floyd County has ordinances in place to protect our water. It is up to the contractor or developer to become familiar with the law in place to avoid unnecessary fines.
  • Identify and conserve environmentally sensitive areas on your site and design your site around these areas.
  • Use low-impact site design principles. For "Better Site Design" development tools and tips, visit the Center for Watershed Protection and the Georgia Stormwater Management Manual.
  • Implement and maintain aggressive erosion control measures to prevent sediment runoff.
  • Prevent root damage of trees and shrubbery by placing barriers around plant life and limiting construction within those barriers. Re-vegetate through seeding and mulching, as vegetation is most effective in erosion control.