Environmental Rules in Cumberland County, NC (2026)
4 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in Cumberland County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Cumberland County bans discharging anything other than stormwater into its municipal storm sewer system, plus illicit physical connections and improper disposal into storm drains or waterways. Stormwater Services enforces the rules with notices, escalating civil penalties, and a formal appeal process.
Cumberland County Stormwater Discharge Rules
Some RestrictionsCumberland County Code Sec. 12-15
(1)Non-stormwater discharges.a.It shall be unlawful for any person or persons to discharge non-stormwater to any stormwater conveyance with the exception of the following:1.Water line flushing;2.Landscape irrigation;...9.Air conditioning condensation... b.If any of the above non-stormwater exceptions are found to be polluted and thus cause a negative impact on the quality of the waters of the s...
Erosion Control
Cumberland County requires an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan before any land-disturbing activity uncovers more than one acre for residential work or 20,000 square feet for other development in the unincorporated county. The county engineering department must approve the plan and issue a permit at least 30 days before grading starts, with civil penalties up to $500 per day for violations.
Erosion Control Plan Required in Cumberland County
Some RestrictionsCumberland County Code Sec. 6-5(a)
Plan required. No person shall initiate any land-disturbing activity which uncovers more than one acre for residential development or 20,000 square feet for all other development without having an erosion control plan approved by the county engineering department.
Flood Zones
Any development, including grading, filling, new structures or substantial improvements, located within a mapped special flood hazard area of unincorporated Cumberland County needs a floodplain development permit before work begins. The county floodplain administrator reviews the application against FEMA's flood insurance study and the county's flood insurance rate maps before issuing it.
Floodplain Development Permit in Cumberland County
Some RestrictionsCumberland County Code Sec. 6.5-23
A floodplain development permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this chapter prior to the commencement of any development activities within special flood hazard areas determined in accordance with the provisions of article III, section 6.5-22 of this chapter.
Flood Elevation Requirements
In special flood hazard areas with mapped base flood elevations, unincorporated Cumberland County requires new and substantially improved buildings to sit two feet above the base flood elevation. This 'regulatory flood protection elevation' is the minimum floor height the floodplain administrator enforces before issuing a floodplain permit or certificate of occupancy.
Cumberland County's Two-Foot Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsCumberland County Code Sec. 6.5-11
Regulatory flood protection elevation means the "base flood elevation" plus the "freeboard". In "special flood hazard areas" where base flood elevations (BFEs) have been determined, this elevation shall be the BFE plus two feet of freeboard.
Environmental Rules by City in Cumberland County
1 cities in Cumberland County have their own environmental rules rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All Cumberland County ordinances
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