(a) Approval required. Except as provided in subsection (b), a person may not:
(1) grade without a grading permit issued by the Department;
(2) clear or grade in the critical area buffer, expanded buffer, or buffer modification area described in § 18-13-104 of this Code without a standard grading plan, a grading permit, or an approved vegetation management plan, buffer management plan or forest management plan; or
(3) do logging without a grading permit issued by the Department.
(b) Exceptions. Approval is not required for clearing or grading associated with:
(1) agricultural land management practices or agricultural buildings, as defined in Article 15, except that an approved standard grading plan that is also approved by the Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District is required for agricultural buildings that involve disturbing between 5,000 square feet and one acre of land. In addition, an erosion and sediment control plan approved by the Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District is required in lieu of a standard grading plan or grading permit for agricultural buildings that involve disturbing more than one acre of land;
(2) the laying of water, sewer, gas, electrical, telephone, or cable television lines that disturbs less than 100 linear feet, or 500 linear feet for individual single family residential lots provided the overall disturbance is less than 5,000 square feet;
(3) activities that are subject exclusively to State approval and enforcement under State law;
(4) activities under a standard grading plan approved by the Department under § 16-3-202; or
(5) disturbing less than 5,000 square feet of land or unless prohibited by subsection (a)(2) of this section or other applicable State or federal law.
(Bill No. 58-10; Bill No. 93-12; Bill No. 76-13; Bill No. 83-15; Bill No. 24-17)