Erosion & Sediment Control

Erosion and Sediment Control is practiced to promote, protect, maintain and enhance the public safety, health and general welfare of the citizens of Caroline County; to promote the conservation of natural resources; and to protect fish, marine life and recreational use of these waters from the adverse effects of erosion and sedimentation; and to assist in the attainment and maintenance of water quality standards.

No land shall be cleared or graded without first having implemented erosion and sediment controls in accordance with an erosion and sediment control plan approved by the Soil Conservation District as required by the Caroline County Code of Local Public Laws. A building or grading permit may not be issued until the erosion and sediment control plan has been approved, unless the activity is specifically exempted in the code.

The following development activities are exempt from erosion and sediment control regulations:
  1. Agricultural land management practices and the construction of agricultural structures.
  2. Construction of single-family residences or their accessory buildings on lots of two acres or more.
  3. Clearing and grading activities that disturb less than 5,000 square feet of land area and disturb less than 100 cubic yards of earth.
  4. Any state or federal project, except those which involve state, federal, and private lands or if state or federal lands, or both, comprise 10% or less of the total project area.
For more information about Erosion and Sediment Control or for requirements specific to your project visit the Maryland Department of the Environment web page on Soil Erosion and Sediment Control or contact the Caroline County Soil Conservation District at 410-479-1202.