Environmental Rules in Surry County, NC (2026)
3 rules for unincorporated Surry County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
Unincorporated Surry County, North Carolina requires anyone subdividing land inside a designated public water supply watershed to describe how the project will handle storm water before the Zoning Administrator will approve the plat. The subdivider must design a drainage system that diverts runoff away from surface waters and applies best management practices to protect water quality under the county's Water Supply Watershed Protection standards.
Stormwater Drainage Rules for Surry County Watersheds
Some RestrictionsSurry County Code § 154.017-12(F)(3)(c)-(d)
(3) Subdivision standards and required improvements. ... (c) Stormwater drainage facilities. The application shall be accompanied by a description of the proposed method of providing storm water drainage. The subdivider shall provide a drainage system that diverts stormwater runoff away from surface waters and incorporates best management practices to minimize water quality impacts. (d) E...
Flood Zones
In unincorporated Surry County, North Carolina, no structure or land within a FEMA-mapped special flood hazard area may be built, altered, or developed without a floodplain development permit from the Floodplain Administrator. Under County Code § 154.017-02, applicants must submit a certified plot plan, elevation data, and flood zone documentation before any grading, filling, or construction begins in the mapped floodplain.
Surry County NC Floodplain Development Permit
Some RestrictionsSurry County Code §§ 154.017-01(G), 154.017-02(A)-(B)
(G) Compliance. ... No structure or land shall hereafter be located, extended, converted, altered, or developed in any way without the compliance with the terms of this subchapter and other applicable regulations. ... § 154.017-02 FLOOD HAZARD AREA APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS. (A) Application for a floodplain development permit shall be made to the Floodplain Administrator prior to any develop...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Surry County, North Carolina, new construction in a special flood hazard area must be elevated to the regulatory flood protection elevation, defined at § 154.003-02 as the base flood elevation (BFE) plus two feet of freeboard, or at least two feet above the highest adjacent grade where FEMA has not set a BFE. Section 154.017-07(A) makes that elevation mandatory for residential, non-residential, and manufactured-home construction alike.
Surry County Flood Freeboard Elevation Rule
Some RestrictionsSurry County Code § 154.003-02 (FREEBOARD; REGULATORY FLOOD PROTECTION ELEVATION); § 154.017-07(A)
FREEBOARD. ... The height added to the base flood elevation (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 openings and the hydrological effect of urbanization of the watershed. The base flood elevation (BFE) plus the freeboard estab...
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