Stormwater Regulations

Local governing bodies adopt and maintain regulations to promote public health and safety, minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions, and protect surface waters and the natural functions of floodplains. The State legislature authorizes local governments to adopt and enforce ordinances to address local needs and to meet federal and state requirements.

  • Floodplain regulations limit development within the floodplain, minimize public and private losses due to flood conditions, and control the alteration of natural floodplains.
  • Post-Construction Stormwater Control ordinances ensure that new developments are designed to minimize impacts to surface water quality and that structural Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) are built and then maintained after development is complete. 
  • Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control ordinances require builders and developers to implement measures like perimeter sediment fence, construction entrances, and sediment basins to control sedimentation and protect surface water quality.  
  • Stormwater Pollution Control ordinances prohibit illicit connections and discharges to the storm drainage system and outline the steps for responding to violations and enforcement actions.
  • Surface Water Improvement & Management (SWIM) ordinances require vegetated buffers along streams to protect the natural functions of the stream system. Additional buffer requirements are found in Post-Construction Stormwater ordinances and Water Supply Watershed ordinances.
  • Watershed Supply Watersheds ordinances regulate the development and land use density in certain watersheds to protect the water quality of lakes that supply drinking water. 

 

 

 

Floodplain Regulations

    

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Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinances

Contact Us

City of Charlotte Contact
Jordan Miller, PE
Surface Water Quality and Environmental Permitting Manager
Charlotte Storm Water Services
704.533.2149
Jordan.Miller@charlottenc.gov

Mecklenburg County and Towns Contact
Rusty Rozzelle
Water Quality Program Manager
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.314.3217
Rusty.Rozzelle@mecknc.gov

       

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Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinances

Documents & Resources

City of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance Policies and Procedures(PDF, 6MB)

City of Charlotte Land Development Standards Manual 

Mecklenburg County Land Development Standards Manual includes more information about erosion control (applies to Cornelius, Davidson, Huntersville, Matthews, Mint Hill and Pineville and their ETJs.)

City of Charlotte Erosion & Sediment Control page, including Charlotte-Mecklenburg Certified Site Inspector (CMCSI) program information.

Contact Us

City of Charlotte Contact
Jay Wilson, CPESC
Erosion Control Administrator
Charlotte Storm Water Services
704.517.1152
Jay.Wilson@charlottenc.gov

Mecklenburg County and Towns Contact
Corey Priddy
Environmental Supervisor
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.721.9058
Corey.Priddy@mecknc.gov

     

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Stormwater Pollution Control Ordinances 

  

Ordinances

Contact Us

City of Charlotte Contact
Steve Jadlocki
Senior Water Quality Specialist
Charlotte Storm Water Services
704.336.4398
Steve.Jadlocki@charlottenc.gov

Mecklenburg County and Towns Contact
Ryan Spidel, CFM
Environmental Supervisor
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.721.3762
Ryan.Spidel@mecknc.gov

   

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Surface Water Improvement & Management (SWIM) Ordinances 

         

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Water Supply Watersheds Ordinances

  

Ordinances

Some streams within Mecklenburg County flow directly into lakes that supply drinking water. By state law, Water Supply Watersheds are under additional zoning and development regulations.

City of Charlotte

Town of Cornelius Land Development Code Chapter 11 Watershed Protection Administration

Town of Davidson Planning Ordinance Chapter 17: Watershed Protection Overlay District 

Town of Huntersville Zoning Ordinance - Mountain Island Lake Watershed Overlay District and Lake Norman Watershed Overlay District

Documents & Resources

Understanding Built-Upon Area Restrictions in Water Supply Watersheds(PDF, 472KB)

Chart of Water Supply Watershed Buffer Requirements and Built Upon Area Restrictions(PDF, 34KB)

Critical Areas(PDF, 563KB) of Water Supply Watersheds and in the Goose Creek Watershed require additional erosion control measures to further protect the quality of drinking water or protect an endangered species.

Water Quality Buffer Implementation Guidelines(PDF, 5MB)

Contact Us

There are restrictions on tree removal, grading, clearing, and placement of permanent structures of any type including septic tanks in buffer zones within Water Supply Watersheds. For more information, please contact:

City of Charlotte Contact
Jordan Miller, PE
Surface Water Quality and Environmental Permitting Manager
Charlotte Storm Water Services
704.533.2149
Jordan.Miller@charlottenc.gov

Mecklenburg County and Towns Contact
David Caldwell
Water Quality Supervisor
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.314.3218
David.Caldwell@mecknc.gov

    

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