Environmental Rules in Burke County, NC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Burke County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Burke County's subdivision ordinance sets engineering standards for surface drainage in new subdivisions. Section 62-122(2) requires drainage courses to have side slopes of at least three feet of horizontal distance for every one foot of vertical drop, sized to carry runoff from the drainage area without flooding, with a minimum bottom grade of one foot of fall per 100 feet of horizontal distance.
Burke County Subdivision Drainage Standards
Some RestrictionsBurke County Code § 62-122
(2)Drainage. Surface drainage courses shall have side slopes of at least three feet of horizontal distance for each one foot of vertical distance, and shall be of sufficient size to accommodate runoff from the drainage area without flooding. The minimum grade along the bottom of a surface drainage course shall be a vertical fall of at least one foot in each 100 feet of horizontal distance.
Erosion Control
Before a subdivider in unincorporated Burke County can disturb an acre or more of land, section 62-117 requires an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the state's division of land resources. The planning board can conditionally approve a preliminary plat on that approval coming through, but the subdivision administrator must inspect the site before final plat approval to confirm disturbed areas are stabilized.
Burke County Subdivision Erosion Control
Significant RestrictionsBurke County Code § 62-117
In order to prevent the pollution of streams, springs, flat water bodies, and other drainage networks due to soil erosion and sedimentation, the following requirements shall be met in accordance with Title 15 of the N.C. Administrative Code, as amended: ... (1)Requirements for major subdivisions.a.The planning board may conditionally approve preliminary plats subject to the ability of the subdi...
Flood Zones
In unincorporated Burke County, no structure or land in a special flood hazard area can be located, extended, converted, or structurally altered without a development permit from the chief building inspector, and violating the floodplain ordinance is a misdemeanor.
Floodplain Development Permit in Burke County
Significant RestrictionsBurke County Code §§ 34-9, 34-38
No structure or land shall be located, extended, converted or structurally altered without full compliance with the terms of this chapter and other applicable regulations. ... A development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter prior to the commencement of any development activities.
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Burke County, North Carolina, new construction and substantial improvements inside a mapped special flood hazard area must have the lowest floor elevated no lower than the base flood elevation under County Code § 34-72. Manufactured homes need at least two feet of freeboard above that elevation on an anchored permanent foundation. The floodplain administrator in Community Development enforces the standard, and noncompliance can trigger a misdemeanor order under § 34-48.
Burke County Base Flood Elevation Standards
Some RestrictionsBurke County Code § 34-72
In all areas of special flood hazard where base flood elevation data has been provided, as set forth in section 34-8 or 34-37(10), the following provisions are required: (1)Residential construction. New construction or substantial improvement of any residential structure shall have the lowest floor, including basement, elevated no lower than the base flood elevation. Should solid foundation per...
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