Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control

About Us 

Grand Traverse County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control is the designated entity to enforce Public Act 451, Michigan Environmental Protection Act, Part 91. We provide protection of surface water and the environment from the adverse impact of earth changes by assuring appropriate design and implementation of soil erosion and sedimentation control measures and practices.

Grand Traverse County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control is located under Environmental Health and serves all of Grand Traverse County except for projects located within the City Limits of the City of Traverse City.  Please contact the City of Traverse City for those projects as they have their own Soil Erosion Office.

Michigan Requirements

Public Act 451, Michigan Environmental Protection Act, Part 91 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control requires a permit if your project involves excavating, filling, grading, building, etc. and the site is:

  • Within 500 feet of a lake or stream
  • Disturbing more than one (1) acre of soil (43,560 square feet)

County Requirements

In addition to State of Michigan requirements under Part 91, Grand Traverse County had an additional Soil Erosion Ordinance in place that requires a permit if your project is:

  • Located within 500 feet of a regulated wetland
  • Disturbing slopes of 20% or greater
  • Located within 500 feet of a County Drain
  • If the soils on site are classified as Group D hydrologic soils

For More Information

If you are unsure if any of the above conditions apply to your site or project, please contact our office and we will be happy to assist you.  Please be sure to have you project location (address or parcel number) handy when you call so we may get you to the correct Inspector.