Title 12

Wildflower preservation. Generally, §§12-6-170 to 12-6-176. POLICE. Georgia music hall of fame authority. Security force. Authorization for, §12-3-527. POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. Drought. Outdoor watering restrictions, §12-5-7. Timber harvesting. Notice of wood removal. Effect of pro…

Seizure of pine straw obtained or offered for sale in violation of article. Harvesting or handling pine straw for home or personal use. Penalty. 12-6-231. 12-6-232. review, evaluation and reporting to Governor; review of standards. Reporting to Governor by director. Obligation of…

12-6-60. 12-6-61. 12-6-62. cations, and reports issued by registrant. Licenses — Eligibility of foresters with 12 years’ experience [Repealed]. Licenses — Reciprocity for nonresidents. Licenses — Only individuals may be licensed. Licenses — Expiration and renewal generally; conti…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Act.’’ History. — Code 1981, § 12-6A-1, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 541, § 1/HB 332.

Following the close of each state fiscal year, the department shall submit an annual report of its activities and program administration expenditures for the preceding year pursuant to this chapter to the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representativ…

The department shall promulgate rules and regulations as necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. History. — Code 1981, § 12-6A-11, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 541, § 1/HB 332.

(a) Each county in which is located 20,000 acres or more of unimproved real property belonging to the state and under the custody or control of the department, in which such state-owned property exceeds 10 percent of the taxable real property in the county, and in which such prop…

This chapter is enacted pursuant to Article III, Section IX, Paragraph VI(p) of the Constitution, which authorizes up to 80 percent of all moneys received by the state from the sales and use tax collected by outdoor recreation equipment establishments classified under the 2007 Nor…

The intent of this chapter is to provide stewardship for state parks, state lands, and wildlife management areas; support local parks and trails; and protect critical conservation land. History. — Code 1981, § 12-6A-3, enacted by Ga. L. 2018, p. 541, § 1/HB 332.

As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Conservation land’’ means land and water, or interests therein, that are in their undeveloped, natural states or that have been developed only to the extent consistent with, or are restored to be consistent with, at least one of the follow…

(a) There is established the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund as a separate fund in the state treasury. Except as provided in subsections (c) and (d) of this Code section, the General Assembly shall appropriate to the trust fund 40 percent of all moneys received by the stat…

(a) From within the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, moneys shall be made available in each fiscal year for grants to any qualified local government as defined in paragraph (18) of subsection (a) of Code Section 50-8-2, any constituted recreation authority registered with the…

(a) There is hereby established the Board of Trustees of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund, which shall consist of 11 members as follows: (1) The commissioner of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, who shall also serve as chairperson of the board; (2) The direct…

(a) The Board of Trustees of the Georgia Outdoor Stewardship Trust Fund shall accept applications from qualified local governments as defined in paragraph (18) of subsection (a) of Code Section 50-8-2, constituted recreation authorities registered with the Department of Community A…

The department may, by agreement with a city, county, or nongovernmental entity, accept and administer property acquired by such city, county, or nongovernmental entity pursuant to this chapter or may make such other agreements for the ownership and operation of the property as a…

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Erosion and Sedimentation Act of 1975.’’ History. — Ga. L. 1975, p. 994, § 1; Ga. L. 2003, p. 224, § 5.

Except as otherwise provided by Code Section 12-7-7, immediately upon receipt of an application for a permit the application and plan for sediment and erosion control shall be referred to the appropriate district wherein such land-disturbing activities are proposed to take place,…

(a) Within the time specified by Code Section 12-7-9, the local issuing authority shall issue or deny the permit. The local issuing authority, upon denial of a permit, shall state its reasons for the denial, setting forth specifically wherein such application is found to be deficien…

(a) Except as provided in subsection (d) of this Code section, whenever the director has reason to believe that a violation of any provision of this chapter, any rule or regulation of the board, or any order of the director has occurred in a county or municipality which is not ce…

Whenever, in the judgment of the director, any person has engaged in or is about to engage in any act or practice which constitutes or would constitute a violation of this chapter, the rules and regulations adopted pursuant to this chapter, or any order or permit conditions in a …

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, upon receipt of evidence that certain land-disturbing activities occurring in a municipality or county which is not certified pursuant to subsection (a) of Code Section 12-7-8 are presenting an imminent and s…

History. — Ga. L. 1975, p. 994, § 12; Ga. L. 1980, p. 942, § 8; Ga. L. 1985, p. 1224, § 1; Ga. L. 1988, p. 269, § 27; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1295, § 5; Ga. L. 1994, p. 1650, § 5; Ga. L. 1995, p. 150, § 3; Ga. L. 2003, p. 224, § 5; Ga. L. 2007, p. 127, § 2/HB 463; Ga. L. 2019, p. 606, § …

All hearings on and review of contested matters, orders, or permits issued by or filed against the director and all hearings on and review of any other enforcement actions or orders initiated by the director under this chapter shall be provided and conducted in accordance with sub…

This chapter shall not apply to the following activities: (1) Surface mining, as the same is defined in Code Section 12-4-72; (2) Granite quarrying and land clearing for such quarrying; (3) Such minor land-disturbing activities as home gardens and individual home landscaping, repa…

No provision of this chapter shall authorize any person to violate Article 2 of Chapter 5 of this title, the ‘‘Georgia Water Quality Control Act,’’ or the rules and regulations promulgated and approved under said article or to pollute any waters of this state as defined in said ar…

(a)(1) Persons involved in land development design, review, permitting, construction, monitoring, or inspection or any land-disturbing activity shall meet the education and training certification requirements, dependent on his or her level of involvement with the process, as devel…

It is found that soil erosion and sediment deposition onto lands and into waters within the watersheds of this state are occurring as a result of widespread failure to apply proper soil erosion and sedimentation control practices in land clearing, soil movement, and construction …

(a) There shall be a Stakeholder Advisory Board to consist of not more than 13 members. (b) Members shall be appointed by the Governor, shall serve at the pleasure thereof, and shall represent the following interests: (1) The division; (2) The commission; (3) Soil and water conse…

In order to achieve efficiencies and economies for both the division and the regulated community by the use of electronic filing for certain application and reporting requirements of this chapter and National Pollution Discharge Elimination System permits, the division and the Pol…

As used in this chapter, the term: (1) ‘‘Board’’ means the Board of Natural Resources. (2) ‘‘Buffer’’ means the area of land immediately adjacent to the banks of state waters in its natural state of vegetation, which facilitates the protection of water quality and aquatic habitat…

(a) The governing authority of each county and each municipality shall adopt a comprehensive ordinance establishing the procedures governing land-disturbing activities which are conducted within their respective boundaries. Such ordinances shall be consistent with the standards p…

The board, by appropriate rules and regulations, shall adopt the procedures governing land-disturbing activities which are conducted in those counties and municipalities which do not have in effect an ordinance conforming to this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall be devel…

(a)(1) Best management practices as set forth in subsection (b) of this Code section shall be required for all land-disturbing activities. Proper design, installation, and maintenance of best management practices shall constitute a complete defense to any action by the director o…

(a) No land-disturbing activities shall be conducted in this state, except those land-disturbing activities provided for in Code Section 12-7-17, without the operator first securing a permit from a local issuing authority or providing notice of intent to the division as required b…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘contractor’’ means the individual, firm, corporation, or combination thereof or governmental organization contracting with the Department of Transportation or State Road and Tollway Authority for the performance of prescribed work. (b)(…

(a)(1) If a county or municipality has enacted ordinances which meet or exceed the standards, requirements, and provisions of this chapter and the state general permit, except that the standards, requirements, and provisions of the ordinances for monitoring, reporting, inspection…

(a) Applications for permits shall be submitted in accordance with this chapter and the rules and regulations, ordinances, and resolutions adopted pursuant to this chapter. Such applications shall be accompanied by the applicant’s erosion and sediment control plans and by such su…

(a) As used in this Code section, the term ‘‘individual sewage disposal system’’ means a sewage disposal system, other than a public or community sewage disposal system, serving a single building, residence, or other facility designed or used for human occupancy or congregation a…

(a) No person, firm, or corporation shall place, dump, dispose of, or cause to be placed, dumped, or disposed of in a public storm or sanitary sewer pipeline or through manholes thereof, or otherwise, any contents or matter of or from any septic tank, waste water holding tank, gre…

This part shall be known and may be cited as the ‘‘Georgia Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Act.’’ History. — Code 1981, § 12-8-20, enacted by Ga. L. 1990, p. 412, § 1.

(a) It is declared to be the policy of the State of Georgia, in furtherance of its responsibility to protect the public health, safety, and well-being of its citizens and to protect and enhance the quality of its environment, to institute and maintain a comprehensive state-wide p…

As used in this article, the term: (1) ‘‘Affected county’’ means, in addition to the county in which a facility is or is proposed to be located, each county contiguous to the host county and each county and municipality within a county that has a written agreement with the facili…

In the performance of its duties the board shall have and may exercise the power to: (1) Adopt, promulgate, modify, amend, and repeal rules and regulations to implement and enforce the provisions of this part as the board may deem necessary to provide for the control and manageme…

(a) The director shall have and may exercise the following powers and duties: (1) To exercise general supervision over the administration and enforcement of this part and all rules and regulations, orders, or permits promulgated or issued under this part; (2) To encourage, partic…

(a) No person shall engage in solid waste or special solid waste handling in Georgia or construct or operate a solid waste handling facility in Georgia, except those individuals exempted from this part under Code Section 12-8-30.10, without first obtaining a permit from the direct…

(a) After July 1, 1992, no person shall perform the duties of a municipal solid waste disposal facility operator without being duly certified under this Code section. (b) After July 1, 1992, no municipal solid waste disposal facility shall be operated in Georgia unless the operato…