§ 20-593. Permits.

(a)

Permits shall be issued or denied as soon as practicable but, in any event, not later than 45 days after receipt by the city of a completed application; providing variances and bonding are obtained, where necessary, and all applicable fees have been paid prior to permit issuance. The permit shall include any conditions under which the activity may be undertaken.

(b)

No permit shall be issued by the city unless the erosion sedimentation and pollution control plan has been approved by the district or by the city, and unless the city has affirmatively determined that the plan is in compliance with this article, any variances required by subsections 20-568(a)(16) and (17) are obtained, bonding requirements, if necessary, as per subsection 20-591(g), are met and all ordinances and rules and regulations in effect within the jurisdictional boundaries of the unincorporated city are met. If the permit is denied, the reason for denial shall be furnished to the applicant.

(c)

If the tract is to be developed in phases, then a separate permit shall be required for each phase to include the development sequence.

(d)

The permit may be suspended, revoked, or modified by the city, as to all or any portion of the land affected by the plan, upon finding that the holder or his or her successor in title is not in compliance with the approved erosion and sedimentation control plan or that the holder or his or her successor in title is in violation of this article. A holder of a permit shall notify any successor in title to him or her of the conditions contained in the permit as to all or any portion of the land affected by the approved plan.

(e)

The city may reject a permit application if the applicant has had two or more violations of previous permits or the Erosion and Sedimentation Act permit requirements within three years prior to the date of the application, in light of O.C.G.A. § 12-7-7(f)(1).

(f)

It shall constitute noncompliance with this article to engage in land-disturbance activity involving clearing, grading, timber harvesting, or grubbing without a permit, which activity may immediately warrant citation.

(Ord. No. 10-06-66, § 1, 6-21-2010; Ord. No. 17-01-294 , § 1, 1-9-2017; Ord. No. 18-01-333 , § 1, 1-8-2018)

State Constitution reference— Permits for land-disturbing activities, O.C.G.A. §§ 12-7-7, 12-7-9.