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Gwinnett County › Unified Development Ordinance

Title 3 — Development and Permitting, Chapter 380 — Public Utilities Installation

current as of 2025-10-28currency checked manuallyOfficialofficial source ↗8 sections · full chapter
§ 380-10

Placement of Utilities

380-10.1 Underground Utilities to be in Right-of-Way or Easement.

All authorized public underground utilities shall be located within the right-of-way of a public street or within an easement designated for such use.

Within a public street right-of-way, placement of the various authorized utilities (power, gas, cable TV, water, and sewer) shall conform to the specific locations designated for such use by Gwinnett County, as illustrated in the Standard Drawings in the Appendix of this UDO.

380-10.2 Private Underground Utilities Require Department Approval if in the Right-of-Way. No other

underground utilities, such as private lawn sprinkler systems, yard lighting, etc., shall be installed within a public right-of-way or easement except by authorization of the Operations and Maintenance Section of the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation Gwinnett County. Such authorization, if issued, shall require the applicant to assume all repair costs of the applicant's facilities should they be damaged during the course of installation, maintenance, or repair of any roadway facilities or any of the public utilities authorized to occupy said right-of-way or easement.

380-10.3 Easements.
A.Dedication requirement. Temporary construction easements and permanent easements for public utilities, stormwater infrastructure or other public facilities shall be dedicated to Gwinnett County in accordance with County requirements.
B.Cleared, opened, and stabilized. Drainage easements are required for any part of the stormwater infrastructure system or undisturbed drainage features which are designed to carry existing or proposed stormwater runoff. Drainage easements for improved ditches, pipe construction, and stormwater facilities shall be cleared, opened, and stabilized at the time of development to control surface water run-off (See also Chapter 800). Run-off slope and side slopes shall be specified by the authorized registered professional, according to good engineering practice. Drainage easements for stormwater that convey water shall be provided according to the minimum requirements found in Table 380.1 below, conform to County Standards, and centered over the conveyance system. The minimum easement width shall be based on the pipe diameter (span) plus 2 feet plus 2 times the pipe invert depth. This value shall be rounded up to the nearest 5 feet. For pipes exceeding 16 feet in depth, a pre-submittal conference shall be held with the County to determine what additional requirements may be required.
Table 380-1. Easement Width for Stormwater Infrastructure.
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construction easement widths shall be determined by the authorized registered professional.

D.Provision for common sanitary/drainage easement. A common easement for sanitary sewer and drainage purposes may be allowed if the pipes are parallel and at least 10 feet is provided between pipes (on center). The easement width shall be equal to the width shown in Table 380-1 plus the width distance separating the pipes (minimum of 10 feet).
E.Watercourse easements. Drainage easements shall be provided where a development is traversed by or contains a watercourse, impoundment, detention facility, improved channel, floodplain, natural stream, or channel. It shall conform substantially to the flooding limits of the 100-year storm based on fully developed conditions per the Gwinnett County Unified Plan but shall be no less than 20 feet in width.
F.Off street right-of-way easements. Drainage easements off the street right-of-way shall be clearly defined on the Final Plat. The property owner will be required to keep the easement free of obstruction in such a way as to assure the maximum designed flow at all times. The property owner shall not alter any drainage improvements without the prior written approval from the County.

Structures shall not be constructed or erected in an easement without the prior written approval from the County. Driveways shall cross an easement as close to perpendicular as practical. Property owners may plant landscaping in an easement that is piped; however, the County is not responsible for replacing the landscape material located in the easement when it is removed to maintain the drainage system.

G.Cleared easements to be grassed. All drainage, sewer, access, or other easements that were required to be cleared shall be fine graded and grassed within 10 days of completing construction work. The use of sediment control measures may be required to protect the area until a comprehensive vegetative cover is obtained.
Table 380.1 below, conform to County Standards, and centered over the conveyance system. The
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Reading grid · rebuilt for display · verify at source (p. 269) ↗
§ 380-20

Water Supply Systems

Refer to Gwinnett County, Georgia, Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 106, Utilities.

§ 380-30

Cross-Connection Control and Backflow Prevention

Refer to Gwinnett County, Georgia, Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 106, Utilities.

§ 380-40

Disposal of Sanitary Waste

Refer to Gwinnett County, Georgia, Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 106, Utilities.

§ 380-50

Private Wastewater Disposal

Refer to Gwinnett County, Georgia, Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 106, Utilities.

§ 380-60

Sewer Construction Standards

Refer to Gwinnett County, Georgia, Code of Ordinances, Part II, Chapter 106, Utilities.

§ 380-70

Water and Sanitary Sewer Installation Standards

380-70.1 Installation and Compaction Required before Pavement or Base.

All water and sanitary sewer utilities and stormwater infrastructure facilities within the curbs shall be installed and the ditches backfilled and thoroughly compacted before any pavement or base is installed. A minimum of 95 percent compaction is required.

380-70.2 After Base Installed, Utilities to be Bored.

Once the base has been placed, all further installation of utilities under the roadway shall be bored or otherwise comply with Section 380-80.

380-70.3 Manholes Flush with Finished Grade.

All utility manholes and valve boxes shall be brought flush to the finished grade within the roadway section. If there is a delay in applying the final surface course for new roadway pavement, then the utility manholes and valve boxes shall be brought flush with the finished grade of the intermediate course of the roadway pavement.

380-70.4 Standard Drawings Apply.

All utility locations shall adhere to the details found in the Standard Drawings in the Appendix of this UDO.

§ 380-80

Street Cuts

380-80.1 Review and Approval by the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation. All utility

construction plans within County right-of-way shall be reviewed and approved by the Gwinnett County Department of Transportation before construction begins. Street cuts shall not be allowed unless deemed absolutely necessary due to the presence of rock, the need to tap into an existing line beneath the road surface, or other circumstance which makes boring impossible or infeasible.

380-80.2 Fees Required.
A.No street cut shall be authorized until such Street Cut Fees have been paid.
B.All street cut repairs must be inspected and approved prior to the release of street cut fees.
380-80.3 Trenches to be Backfilled.
A.If approved, all trenches shall be backfilled and compacted the same day the trench is opened.
B.Trenches under the paving shall be returned to 95 percent compaction.
C.Trenches elsewhere shall be returned to 90 percent compaction.
D.See Section 360-70.2 for trench compaction and test requirements.
380-80.4 Trenches under Paving. All trenches under paving shall be concreted with 8 inches of Class "A"

concrete base and 2 inches of 9.5 mm Superpave Type II wearing course asphalt is to be spread.

A.The paving cut shall be widened to a minimum of 9 inches beyond the edges of the trench.
B.The edges of the paving cut shall be smooth.
C.If the final course of asphalt has been completed prior to the street cut, then milling and inlay of the surrounding area will be required. Limits of mill and inlay are subject to Gwinnett County Department of Transportation approval.
380-80.5 Utility Extension Information.
A.Contact the Department of Water Resources or the Department of Planning and Development for public utility extension information from the existing to the proposed development.
B.Contact Gwinnett County Department of Transportation at least 24 hours in advance of closure of traffic lanes. All lane closures must meet Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) guidelines.
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