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.
  • Water 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

Regulations

City of Charlotte

Town of Cornelius Floodplain Ordinance(PDF, 3MB)

Town of Davidson Floodplain Ordinance 

Town of Huntersville's Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance(PDF, 999KB) 

Town of Matthews Floodplain Ordinance(PDF, 938KB)

Town of Mint Hill Floodplain Ordinance(PDF, 768KB) 

Town of Pineville Floodplain Ordinance(PDF, 801KB)

Mecklenburg County Floodplain Ordinance(PDF, 464KB)

Documents & Resources

Floodplain Regulations Technical Guidance Document(PDF, 2MB) (March 2008)

Floodplain Permit Application Review and Approval Process Quick Guide(PDF, 31KB)

Individual Floodplain Development Permit Application(PDF, 124KB)

Substantial Improvement Check Sheet

Flood Fringe Development Check Sheet

Community Encroachment Area Development Check Sheet

Elevation Certificate Application Form (FEMA form 86-0-33)

Flood Insurance Floodproofing Certificate (FEMA form 86-0-34) 

Certificate of Development Outside the Community Encroachment Area

Floodplain Development Permits

FEMA Letter of Map Change Request

Floodplain Ordinances Terms to Know(PDF, 94KB)

Contact Us

David Goode, PE, CFM
Permitting and Compliance Program Manager
Mecklenburg County Storm Water Services
980.314.3235
David.Goode@mecknc.gov

    

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Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinances

Ordinances

City of Charlotte

Town of Cornelius Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance(PDF, 285KB)

Town of Davidson Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance

Town of Huntersville Zoning Ordinance(PDF, 449KB)

Town of Matthews Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance(PDF, 1MB)

Town of Mint Hill Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance(PDF, 640KB)

Town of Pineville Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance(PDF, 378KB)

Mecklenburg Post-Construction Stormwater Ordinance(PDF, 326KB)

Documents & Resources

City of Charlotte

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Guidelines(PDF, 48KB)

Post-Construction Administrative Manual – County and Towns

Post-Construction Permit Flow Chart – City of Charlotte(PDF, 93KB)

Post-Construction Permit Flow Chart – County and Towns(PDF, 51KB)

Post-Construction Stormwater Management Permit Forms - County and Towns

Post-Construction Policy for Public Transportation Projects within Phase II Municipalities(PDF, 67KB)

Water Quality Buffer Implementation Guidelines(PDF, 5MB)

Best Management Practices (BMP) Maintenance Handbook(PDF, 18MB)

Soil Media Sampling Guidelines for Infiltration BMPs/SCMs(PDF, 118KB) (7/23/21)

County and Towns BMP Inspections

SCM Contractor & Inspector List(XLSX, 32KB)

Town of Huntersville Water Quality Design Manual(PDF, 842KB) - July 2024 Edition

List of Changes to the Town of Huntersville Water Quality Design Manual(PDF, 113KB) - July 2024 Edition

Town of Huntersville Low Impact Development

Step-by-Step guide(PDF, 360KB) on how to use POLARIS to find Post-Construction Ordinance requirements for a particular parcel of land.

Learn more about 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

Ordinances

City of Charlotte UDO Article 28 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Control Regulations (Effective June 1, 2023)

Town of Davidson Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance 

Mint Hill Erosion and Sedimentation Control Ordinance

Mecklenburg County Soil Erosion & Sedimentation Control Ordinance (enforced in Cornelius, Huntersville, Matthews, Pineville and unincorporated areas of the County)

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

City of Charlotte Stormwater Pollution Control Ordinance(PDF, 191KB)

Town of Davidson Surface Water Pollution Control Ordinance

Town of Matthews Stormwater Pollution Control Ordinance(PDF, 120KB)

Mecklenburg County Surface Water Pollution Control Ordinance(PDF, 11MB) (applies in all unincorporated areas of Mecklenburg County as well as within the corporate limits of Cornelius, Huntersville, Mint Hill and Pineville).

Documents & Resources

Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination Policies and Procedures(PDF, 6MB)

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 

  

Ordinances

City of Charlotte

Town of Cornelius Environmental Protection Section 9.5(PDF, 316KB)

Town of Davidson SWIM Ordinance

Town of Huntersville SWIM Ordinance(PDF, 261KB)

Town of Matthews SWIM Ordinance(PDF, 256KB)

Town of Mint Hill SWIM Ordinance(PDF, 170KB)

Town of Pineville SWIM Ordinance(PDF, 285KB)

Mecklenburg County SWIM Ordinance(PDF, 285KB)

Documents & Resources

Application for Water Quality Buffer Disturbance(PDF, 292KB)

Water Quality Buffer Implementation Guidelines(PDF, 5MB)

Protecting Water Quality in Lakes(PDF, 333KB)

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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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

Built-Upon Area (BUA) Guidelines(PDF, 48KB)

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

      

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Learn More

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Storm Water Services

Recent Updates

Huntersville Water Quality Design Manual July 2024 Edition(PDF, 842KB)


List of changes to the Huntersville Water Quality Design Manual July 2024 Edition(PDF, 113KB)

Related Content

Storm Water Design Manual

BMP Design Manual

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