---
title: O.C.G.A. § 12-5-447. Minimum standards for certificates and recommendations.
collection: code
id: 12-5-447
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 12-5-447 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-447
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-447.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/12-5-447/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t12-(v10)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=67595359_0#page=617
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: CONSERVATION AND NATURAL RESOURCES / WATER RESOURCES / RIVERS AND RIVER BASINS / PROTECTION OF METROPOLITAN RIVERS
---

# O.C.G.A. § 12-5-447. Minimum standards for certificates and recommendations.

Every certificate issued by a governing authority and every recommendation of the commission, unless the proposed use is not harmful to the water and land resources of the stream corridor, will not significantly impede the natural flow of flood waters, and will not result in significant land erosion, stream bank erosion, siltation, or water pollution, shall comply with the following minimum standards:

(1) No land or water use shall be permitted in the flood plain; and

(2) No land or water use shall be permitted within 150 horizontal feet of the watercourse.

## History

Ga. L. 1973, p. 128, § 8; Code 1981, § 12-5-447, enacted by Ga. L. 1982, p. 2107, § 4; Ga. L. 1983, p. 1059, § 7; Ga. L. 1989, p. 1317, § 6.9; Ga. L. 2008, p. 181, § 25/HB 1216.