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Environmental Rules in Kill Devil Hills, NC (2026)

5 verified environmental rules for Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.

Verified from official government sources

Stormwater Management

In the Town of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, commercial development and homes with more than 6,000 square feet of lot coverage must submit an engineer-certified stormwater management plan sized to hold a ten-year, two-hour storm before the town will issue a Certificate of Occupancy.

Stormwater Drainage Rules in Kill Devil Hills

Some Restrictions

Kill Devil Hills Town Code § 153.070(B), (J)

(B) All commercial development (new or substantial improvements) and one or two-family dwellings greater than 6,000 square feet lot coverage (new or substantial improvements) shall provide a comprehensive plan for the proper drainage of all surface water to systems on and off the property in question. ... The Stormwater Management Plan shall be certified by a North Carolina registered design pr...

Erosion Control

In the Town of Kill Devil Hills, North Carolina, disturbing more than half an acre of land requires a town-approved erosion and sedimentation control plan filed at least 30 days ahead of work, and violations carry civil penalties up to $5,000 per day plus possible criminal misdemeanor charges.

Erosion & Sediment Control Rules in Kill Devil Hills

Significant Restrictions

Kill Devil Hills Town Code § 153.071(C)(1), (R)(1)(a)

(1) No person shall initiate any land-disturbing activity which uncovers more than 1/2 acre without having an erosion control plan approved by the town. ... (a) Civil penalty for a violation. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this section ... is subject to a civil penalty. The maximum civil penalty that the town may assess is $5,000. ... Each day of a continuing violation shall c...

Flood Zones

Any development in Kill Devil Hills' AE, AO, VE, Shaded X or X flood zones needs a floodplain development permit before work starts, under Town Code § 151.09. The zones come from the state-FEMA Cooperating Technical State flood study for Dare County dated June 19, 2020, adopted into the code under § 151.07.

Floodplain Development Permits, Kill Devil Hills

Some Restrictions

Kill Devil Hills Town Code §§ 151.07, 151.09

The special flood hazard areas are those identified under the Cooperating Technical State (CTS) agreement between the State of North Carolina and FEMA in its FIS dated June 19, 2020 for Dare County and associated Digital Flood Insurance Rate Map (DFIRM) panels, including any digital data developed as part of the FIS, which are adopted by reference and declared a part of this chapter and all rev...

Boat Dock Permits

Kill Devil Hills treats a dock as development activity under its flood damage prevention chapter, so building one requires a floodplain development permit from the Floodplain Administrator before work starts. Town Code § 151.01 lists docks, along with piers, bulkheads, pools, landings and ramps, among the items that trigger the permit requirement.

Boat Dock Permits in Kill Devil Hills

Some Restrictions

Kill Devil Hills Town Code § 151.01

DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY. Any activity defined as development which will necessitate a floodplain development permit. This includes buildings, structures, and non-structural items, including (but not limited to) fill, bulkheads, piers, pools, docks, landings, ramps, and erosion control/stabilization measures.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Kill Devil Hills sets exact freeboard add-ons above the base flood elevation for every flood zone in town, defined in Town Code § 151.01. In VE zones homes must clear the BFE by at least one foot free of obstruction; in AE zones by three feet of freeboard or eight feet NAVD 1988, whichever is higher; AO zones follow a similar one-foot or eight-foot rule.

Kill Devil Hills Freeboard and Flood Elevation

Some Restrictions

Kill Devil Hills Town Code § 151.01

FREEBOARD. ... The height added to the BFE to account for the many unknown factors that could contribute to flood heights greater than the height calculated for a selected size flood and floodway conditions, such as wave action, blockage of bridge or culvert openings, storm surge, precipitation exceeding the base flood and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed. The BFE plus t...