Environmental Rules in Gaston County, NC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Gaston County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Gaston County requires a stormwater control permit before any residential or commercial development disturbing an acre or more, or a smaller phase of a larger plan, breaks ground. Sec. 5.5-37 of the county's Stormwater Ordinance sends plans to the Natural Resources Department for a 45-day review.
Gaston County Stormwater Development Permit
Some RestrictionsGaston County Code of Ordinances § 5.5-37
(a)A stormwater permit is required for all development and redevelopment which equals or exceeds one acre of disturbance for residential or commercial development and projects less than an acre that are part of a larger common plan of development or sale, unless exempt pursuant to this chapter.(b)The Gaston County Board of Commissioners shall establish permit review fees. The Gaston County Envi...
Erosion Control
Anyone disturbing an acre or more of land in unincorporated Gaston County must have an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the Natural Resources Department before starting, under Sec. 4-56(a). Violators face civil penalties up to $5,000 per violation and possible criminal charges under Sec. 4-72.
Gaston County Erosion & Sediment Control Rules
Significant RestrictionsGaston County Code of Ordinances § 4-56(a)
No Person shall initiate any land-disturbing activity which uncovers one (1) acre or more, without having an erosion and sedimentation control plan approved by the Gaston County Natural Resources Department, and in borrow and waste areas covered by section 4-61 with a disturbed area one (1) acre or greater. In determining the area, lands under one or diverse ownership being developed as a unit ...
Flood Zones
Gaston County requires a Floodplain Development Permit before any development activity begins within a Special Flood Hazard Area, under Chapter 16 of the Unified Development Ordinance. Violations are a misdemeanor punishable by up to a $50 fine or 30 days in jail, with each day of continued violation a separate offense.
Gaston County Floodplain Development Permit Rule
Significant RestrictionsGaston County Unified Development Ordinance § 16.3.1, § 16.3.3, § 16.3.8
Sec. 16.3.1 - Lands to which this ordinance applies. This ordinance shall apply to all Special Flood Hazard Areas within the jurisdiction of Gaston County, including Extra-Territorial Jurisdictions (ETJs) where the municipality is not providing Flood Damage Prevention regulations or administration and within the jurisdiction of any other community within Gaston County, whose governing body agre...
Flood Elevation Requirements
Gaston County requires new and substantially improved structures in Special Flood Hazard Areas to sit at least 3 feet above the Base Flood Elevation. The Land Use Administrator, acting as Floodplain Administrator, enforces the freeboard standard under the Unified Development Ordinance's flood damage prevention chapter.
Gaston County Flood Elevation & Freeboard Rules
Some RestrictionsGaston County Unified Development Ordinance § 16.2
Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation. 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 three feet of freeboard. In "Special Flood Hazard Areas" where no BFE has been established, this elevation shall be at least three feet above the highest adjacent grade.
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