DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ZONING

CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE GUIDE

GRADING PERMIT EXEMPTION PROCEDURES

REVISED MAY 2006

WHAT QUALIFIES FOR AN EXEMPTION?

1.

Total disturbed area does not exceed 5,000 square feet AND/OR

2.

Total volume of cut and fill does not exceed 100 cubic yards (which is approximately 7 dump truck loads).

3.

All excavated material will remain on site.

4.

The activity will not occur within the 100-foot Critical Area Buffer[1] (or expanded buffer), the 50-foot buffer for non-tidal wetlands and/or the 50-foot buffer for streams outside the Critical Area.

Projects that do not meet one or more of the above criteria require a Grading Permit.

EXEMPTION APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

The Grading Permit Exemption application is attached to this Guide.  A sketch is required as part of the application.  The sketch does not have to be drawn to scale, but must indicate the distance between the location of the activity and buildings, roads, steep slopes (>10%), open water, wetlands and direction of overland water flow.  The sketch must also show the tree cover and indicate the amount of tree cover to be removed.  Other information may be necessary on some projects.

The exemption application requires several reviews and signatures in the following sequence before a permit exemption can be issued:

1.

Applicant’s signature.

2.

Submittal to the Division of Inspections & Permits

3.

Department of Planning & Zoning review and signature of approval.

4.

Calvert Soil Conservation District (SCD) review and signature of approval.

5.

Issuance of the Grading Permit Exemption by Inspections & Permits.

STEPS FOR APPLYING FOR GRADING PERMIT EXEMPTION ONLY (no building permit[2]):

Step 1:  It is recommended that you speak to your Soil Conservation District (SCD) representative prior to submitting the Grading Permit Exemption application.

Step 2:  Complete the application and submit it to the Division of Inspections and Permits.  They will forward it to the Department of Planning and Zoning, where it is reviewed for compliance with the above criteria and the Zoning Ordinance.  If Planning and Zoning is unable to approve the application, a staff member will contact you.  If approved, the application will be forwarded to Calvert SCD.

Application numbers (AP#) are assigned by the Division of Inspections & Permits when the application is accepted.  The status of the application can then be checked on-line at:

www.co.cal.md.us/permlkups/default.aspx

Step 3:  Calvert SCD will review and verify that the project qualifies for Grading Exemption.  If it does not, you will be contacted. If it meets all Calvert SCD requirements, they will sign the Exemption application and return it to the Division of Inspections and Permits for issuance.

Step 4:  Contact the Division of Inspections and Permits to obtain the Exemption.  There are no fees or inspections required.

NOTE: The exemption is void if the project exceeds the limits stated on the application or the applicant has not accurately disclosed the nature or location of the activity.