What to Know Before Clearing Land Around Jefferson, OH
Platea soil and its perched water. Platea soil, whose reference site is about three miles north of the village in Jefferson Township, is a somewhat poorly drained silt loam with a dense fragipan 14 to 26 inches down, and in most years water sits 6 to 12 inches
below the surface from October to June. That sets the calendar: late summer and hard frozen ground
are when a machine works these fields without rutting them.
One acre and the county. Ohio lets county commissioners require erosion and sediment
plans before an acre or more is disturbed for a nonfarm use, and Ohio EPA stormwater coverage starts
at an acre too. Inside the village, ask the Village of Jefferson about
zoning; outside it, ask Ashtabula County and the Ashtabula County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Burning in spring and fall. Outside village and city limits, Ohio bars burning brush
from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. in March, April, May, October and November, and land clearing debris may be
burned only with Ohio EPA's written permission, at least 1,000 feet from neighboring homes.
Requirements vary by parcel, scope and jurisdiction, and the governing authority makes the
determination.