Athens City Code

The following described activities shall not require a grading permit in order to perform clearing, excavation, or related earthwork:

1. (1) Basement or footer excavations for single- or two-family (duplex) residential dwellings.
2. (2) Cemetery graves.
3. (3) Sanitary landfill or refuse disposal sites controlled by other regulations.
4. (4) Excavations for wells or tunnels (unless performed on the public right-of-way).
5. (5) Mining operations controlled by other regulations.
6. (6) Temporary stockpiling or storing of materials, provided that such operations do not affect adjacent properties and all drainage and erosion control requirements. The public works department will determine if there is an affect of stockpiling. Temporary stockpiling/storage shall be defined as 90 days or less.
7. (7) Exploratory excavations/drilling under the direction and/or supervision of a licensed soils engineer or geologist.
8. (8) Excavation for any structures located within an approved subdivision for which there exists an approved, current, grading or site plan with which the developer/owner/builder intends to comply.
9. (9) Accepted agricultural practices such as plowing, cultivation, construction of agricultural structures, nursery operations, tree cutting, logging operations leaving the stump and root mat intact, and cultivated sod operations.
10. (10) Construction, repair, or rebuilding of rail tracks or related facilities belonging to and located on railroad property.
11. (11) Installation, repair, and maintenance of utilities by the utility owner/operator or their contractor or representative.
12. (12) Grading associated with general maintenance, landscaping, excavation, or placement of fill so long as 50 cubic yards or less of soil is disturbed on one lot and the existing contours are not altered in excess of two feet and all work is in compliance of all requirements for erosion and sedimentation control and the proposed work does not impact or obstruct a natural drainage source.