GeorgiaSB 4472025-2026 Regular SessionSenate

Control of Soil Erosion and Sedimentation; denial or nonacceptance of permits; revise provisions

Sponsored By: Jason Anavitarte (Republican), Bill Cowsert (Republican), Jason T. Dickerson (Republican), Clint Dixon (Republican), Drew Echols (Republican), Frank Ginn (Republican), Russ Goodman (Republican), Chuck Payne (Republican), Shawn Still (Republican), Carden Summers (Republican), Larry Walker (Republican), Ben Watson (Republican), Sam Watson (Republican), Rick Williams (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Natural Resources & EnvironmentRulesGeneral Bill

Personalized for You

How does this bill affect your finances?

Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this bill means for your household, plus every other piece of legislation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.

Free to download

Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Clearer deadlines and reasons for permits

Local authorities must explain land-disturbance permit criteria clearly and check completeness and outside-review needs within five days. Without notice of missing information within five days, the application is treated as complete. Authorities generally must issue or deny permits within 45 days after filing, 20 days after the first corrected submission, and 14 days after later ones. Applicants must get a list of items needing outside review; the clock pauses during required outside reviews. The deadlines also cover related approvals, such as stormwater and utilities, but exclude development-of-regional-impact proceedings and the airport exception described separately. Denials or refusals to accept an application must give lawful, specific reasons with supporting records; later reviews cannot raise unrelated issues unless applicants make material additions. Additions unrelated to the authority’s comments, including material additions to an incomplete application, count as a new application with a new review timeline.

Permit applicants get refunds and enforcement

Local authorities must refund all application fees collected when they miss an applicable deadline to issue or deny a permit. The refund equals the fees collected for that application, not a fixed payment. An affected applicant can also ask superior court for an order requiring the authority to follow the permit rules. The court must give that case priority. In the specified airport-related counties, this court remedy requires a local Act approved by a majority of voters voting in a county referendum.

Private inspections protect approved building work

An approved inspection report from a private professional provider is treated as approved once submitted to the local authority. The authority has two business days to flag an incomplete report or inadequate inspection in writing. Its notice must identify specific problems and requirements not met. The provider must correct and resubmit the report. Those problems or corrections cannot stop completion of approved work or delay the related project.

Residents get searchable building permit updates

Beginning January 1, 2028, local governments issuing more than 250 building permits in the prior calendar year must post every submitted application’s status online. Updates must appear immediately or within one business day, and public access must be free, searchable, and require no registration or login. Records must show the application number and date, address or parcel ID, permit type, status, and latest update date. They must also show missed approval or denial deadlines, legal grounds for denials, and the reviewing office. Protected information remains private; governments can link to qualifying outside permit systems, and the rule does not change permit standards, deadlines, or appeal rights.

Airport exception limits permit deadline protections

Permit review deadlines do not automatically apply in counties meeting the law’s airport and land conditions. The airport must be owned or operated by the county or a local authority. It must border at least 9,000 acres currently or formerly owned by a municipality with no incorporated territory in that county. The airport must also border a neighboring county. The deadlines apply only through a local Act approved by a majority of county voters voting in a referendum.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Cosponsors

Victor Anderson
Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 192 • No: 78

Senate vote • 4/3/2026

AGREE TO HOUSE SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 51 • No: 2 • Other: 2

House vote • 3/31/2026

PASSAGE

Yes: 95 • No: 72 • Other: 8

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

PASSAGE BY SUBSTITUTE

Yes: 46 • No: 4 • Other: 4

Actions Timeline

Effective Date
7/1/2026
Senate Date Signed by Governor
5/11/2026Senate
Act 513
5/11/2026
Senate Sent to Governor
4/10/2026Senate
Senate Agreed House Amend or Sub
4/2/2026Senate
House Third Readers
3/31/2026House
House Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/31/2026House
House Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
3/19/2026House
House Second Readers
3/6/2026House
House First Readers
3/4/2026House
Senate Third Read
3/3/2026Senate
Senate Passed/Adopted By Substitute
3/3/2026Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/26/2026Senate
Senate Recommitted
2/25/2026Senate
Senate Read Second Time
2/20/2026Senate
Senate Committee Favorably Reported By Substitute
2/19/2026Senate
Senate Read and Referred
2/3/2026Senate
Senate Hopper
2/2/2026Senate

Bill Text

SB 447/AP* (v13)
PDF

Related Bills

Back to State Legislation