Gwinnett County › Unified Development Ordinance

Title 3 — Development and Permitting, Chapter 340 — Inspections

current as of 2025-10-28currency checked manuallyOfficialofficial source ↗2 sections · full chapter

§ 340-10

Initiation of Development Activities

340-10.1 Initial Activities Required.

A.Following the issuance of any permit authorizing clearing, grubbing, grading or development of a site, a preconstruction conference shall be mandatory for all phases of construction and conducted before erosion and sediment control installation or any land disturbance takes place. Utility construction permits and retaining wall permits shall be issued prior to scheduling a pre-construction conference.

B.The Department shall be contacted no less than 2 business days prior to scheduled start of construction to schedule the mandatory pre-construction conference. Attendees to include owner's representative, engineer, site work contractors, and utility contractors.

C.Site development related activities prior to this required pre-construction conference shall be a violation of the permitted scope of work. A Notice of Violation and a Stop Work Order may be issued on site and all work must stop until the pre-construction conference has been completed and all work prior to the pre-construction conference inspected for compliance with the rules, appropriate standards, regulations, codes, and ordinances, then, if warranted corrections to illegal work completed before the work associated with the approved permit can proceed.

340-10.2 Erosion and Sediment Control Measures.

Required preliminary erosion and sediment control measures must be installed in the field per the developer's authorized plans and inspected by the Department prior to actual grading or removal of vegetation. All erosion and sediment control measures shall be in place per State and County regulations as soon as or in conjunction with the commencement of activities and in continual coordination with the progress of the project and as per the authorized Erosion, Sedimentation and Pollution Control Plan.

A.Preliminary erosion and sedimentation control measures must be installed and operational prior to major grading operations.

B.Buffer areas required to be undisturbed per this UDO, conditions of zoning approval, per the Metropolitan River Protection Act, or any other applicable ordinance, or regulation shall be designated by approved protective tree fencing and shall be inspected by the Department prior to the commencement of any clearing, grubbing, grading, or development activities.

340-10.3 Tree Protection Areas.

Prior to the initiation of land-disturbing activities and throughout the clearing, grubbing and grading process the following must be accomplished for a designated tree protection area in accordance with any approved Buffer and Landscape Plan or Tree Protection Plan for the property, as set forth in this UDO:

A.For trees which are not to be disturbed or removed, required protective fencing, and tree protection area signage shall be established and maintained in place. These barriers must be maintained throughout the land disturbance process and shall not be removed until the final landscaping phase has begun.

B.The tree protection areas shall not be encroached for any reason or be used for storage of earth and other materials resulting from or used during the development process.

C.Construction site activities such as parking, materials storage, concrete washout, burning, etc., shall be arranged to prevent disturbance or damage within or to the tree protection areas.

340-10.4 Stabilization for Erosion Control.

If for any reason a lapse of 14 days occurs after initial land clearing, grubbing, and grading, or development activities have commenced, the developer and/or builder shall be responsible for reestablishing temporary vegetation cover of the site. If the lapse in construction activity extends beyond 30 days, permanent vegetative measures are required under the direction of the Department.

§ 340-20

Development Inspections

340-20.1 Development Inspections.

The developer or contractor shall request all inspections at least 2 business days prior to commencement of any development or construction activity for each of the phases below as authorized by any permit for site work or development. Inspections shall be made by the Department and passed prior to authorization for continuation of further activity or proceeding into new phases. Newly installed underground infrastructure including but not limited to; stormwater pipes and water and sewer lines must be installed per design standards and inspected prior to cover up of any portion.

The following items refer to construction activities that require approval before the next phase of construction occurs:

A.Development of the site. Clearing, grubbing, grading or development of the site or any portion included under the permit.

B.Grading. Installation of slope and grade stakes, erosion controls and detention facilities.

C.Road Construction. The grading of areas for placement of the new roadway(s) shall be staked by the proper responsible parties as per the authorized plan.

D.Installation of storm drainage pipe, detention, or other storm water facilities. Installation of storm drainage pipe, detention, or other stormwater management facilities require a pre-construction conference before commencement.

E.Installation of sanitary sewer and appurtenances and/or water main extensions and appurtenances.

Notification shall be made by the authorized utility contractor after obtaining a utility construction permit from the Department of Planning and Development.

F.Curbing of roadways. Inspection shall be requested before the forms have been set (if used). Roadway width will be spot checked by string line between curb stakes. The developer or representative must be present for all "string line" related field inspections.

G.Sub-base or subgrade of streets. After compaction, the subgrade shall be string-lined for depth and crown. The subgrade shall pass a roll test with no defects, to the satisfaction of the Department.

H.Street base. The base will be string-lined for depth and crown and shall pass a roll test with no movement to the satisfaction of the Department.

I.Paving. A Department inspector shall be on site during the paving process to check consistency, depth, and workmanship, as applicable. For asphalt paving, the temperature of the material will be spot-checked, and evidence provided of quantity, thickness, and mix of installation.

J.Water Line. Shall install curb and gutter prior to installing the water lines.

340-20.2 Responsibility for Quality and Design.

The completion of inspections by Gwinnett County officials or employees and authorization for work continuation shall not transfer responsibility for the quality of the work performed or materials used from the contractor or developer, nor imply or transfer acceptance of responsibility for project design or engineering from the professional corporation or individual under whose hand or supervision the plans were prepared.