The purpose is to reduce the amount of development-related forest loss in Carroll County.  The County Code is the local equivalent of the State Forest Conservation Act which was passed in 1991 as a reaction to rampant development that was occurring at the time.

If the total size of the newly created lot or lots is 40,000 square feet or greater, the Forest Conservation Code will apply to the project.

If your project will result in the cutting, clearing, or grading of more than 20,000 square feet of forest, or if your project will result in an area of disturbance 40,000 square feet or greater, the Forest Conservation Code will apply to your project.

Addressing forest conservation means that the Forest Conservation Code applies to your project.  It requires you to hire a professional surveyor/engineer/land planner to prepare a forest stand delineation (FSD) and a forest conservation plan (FCP).  These documents are submitted to the County for review.  Once the FSD and FCP are approved by the County, mitigation is provided for afforestation and/or reforestation that is owed.  Depending on the project, mitigation might be one or more of the following: retention of existing forest in an easement, planting of new forest, or a purchase of forest bank credit. 

Forest conservation easements are existing or planted forest areas protected from development, tree clearing, and other land-disturbing activities.  Forest conservation easements result from development activity that triggers the Forest Conservation Code.  These easements are deeded to the County and intended to keep the protected areas natural. 

If you contact the Carroll County Bureau of Resource Management and provide an address for the property involved, staff can check to see if the work is part of an approved building, grading, or forest harvest permit.  If it is not, the Bureau will investigate and see if a violation has occurred.