Not all residential projects will require a land disturbance permit.

A Land Disturbing Permit is required when:

• Land disturbance will exceed 10,000 square feet
• Land disturbance will occur within 200 feet of a body of water

There are activities that are specifically exempt from the Land Disturbing Permit requirements. A list of exempt activities can be found in our Bedford County code.

Additionally, projects that meet the criteria below require both a Land Disturbing Permit and coverage under the General VPDES Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Construction Activities (Construction General Permit). 

• Land disturbance that is greater than or equal to 1 acre
• Land disturbance that will occur within a “common plan of development or sale” that cumulatively disturbs greater than 1 acre*

* The most common application of the term “common plan of development or sale” is a subdivision of land platted or recorded after July 1, 2004.  The technical definition is: “a contiguous area where separate and distinct construction activities may be taking place at different times on different schedules.”

There are activities that are specifically exempt from the Construction General Permit requirements. A list of exempt activities can be found in our Bedford County code.