Brunswick County Stormwater Ordinance
Brunswick County Stormwater Ordinance
The stormwater ordinance became effective Sept. 16, 2002. The unincorporated areas of the county are subject to the ordinance. The county also has agreements in place to administer the Stormwater Ordinance in Belville, Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, St. James and Sunset Beach.
The ordinance and accompanying Stormwater Management Manual outline how stormwater runoff must be addressed for all new development and redevelopment in the county.
A county Stormwater Permit is required for:
- All non-residential new development.
- Non-residential redevelopment that increases impervious surface on the site.
- Residential development that disturbs greater than an acre.
- Residential developments where the site will be graded, filled, or excavated and thereby change the elevation of a location by more than four inches.
- Residential development or any related disturbance within 30 feet of the banks of a natural stream or water body.
Stormwater Permit Application Forms
Low Impact Development
In conjunction with the City of Wilmington, New Hanover County and the North Carolina Coastal Federation, Brunswick County developed a Low Impact Development (LID) Guidance Manual to encourage the use of innovative stormwater management techniques. A resolution along with the LID Guidance Manual was approved by the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners on November 3, 2008. A LID spreadsheet modeling tool to aid engineers, planners and developers with design and permitting the LID projects was also developed as part of the initiative.
- Brunswick County LID Resolution
- Brunswick County LID Guidance Manual
- Brunswick County LID Spreadsheet Tool
- Stormwater and LID Presentation
For questions, contact Brigit Flora, PE, Stormwater Engineer.
Stormwater Drainage
The Stormwater Ordinance requires individual property owners to maintain all streams, creeks, ditches, swales, pipes, culverts, etc. that are on the private property. The county does not provide maintenance of drainage ways. (Article VI, Division III, Section 3.4)
Fences or walls shall not alter or impede the natural flow of water in any stream, creek, drainage swale or ditch. Drainage easements must be maintained and kept free of obstructions.
Other Agencies
The county does not control stormwater conveyance along North Carolina Department of Transportation roadways.
Development in Brunswick County is also subject to the North Carolina Coastal Stormwater regulations enforced by NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ). Other agency approvals may be required. Contact NCDEQ to determine application regulations.