Environmental Rules in Union County, NC (2026)
4 rules for unincorporated Union County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Stormwater Management
In unincorporated Union County, the Unified Development Ordinance caps post-development stormwater discharge. Any project disturbing more than one acre of land, or creating more than a quarter acre of impervious surface, cannot release stormwater from the property boundary faster than the land drained before construction, measured against the 2-, 10- and 50-year storm events.
Union County, NC Stormwater Discharge Limit
Some RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 60.170
Stormwater Management 1. No development may be constructed or maintained so that such development impedes the natural flow of water from higher adjacent properties. 2. No development may be constructed or maintained so that the natural flow of surface waters from such development is discharged in another location. (amended 5-18-2015) 3. Post-development stormwater discharge rates at the propert...
Erosion Control
Unincorporated Union County will not approve a development causing land-disturbing activity until the state's environmental agency has approved, or signaled it will approve, an erosion and sedimentation control plan for the site.
Union County Erosion & Sedimentation Control Rule
Some RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 60.180
Sedimentation and Erosion Control No development may be approved that would cause land-disturbing activity requiring prior submission of an erosion and sedimentation control plan to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (NCDENR) unless NCDENR certifies to the county, either that: 1. An erosion control plan has been submitted to and approved by NCDENR; or that 2. NCD...
Flood Zones
In unincorporated Union County, nothing may be built, altered, or developed in a mapped special flood hazard area without meeting anchoring, flood-resistant construction, and utility protection standards under the county's flood damage prevention article.
Union County Flood Hazard Area Development Standards
Significant RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 65.020-A
General Standards In all special flood hazard areas the following provisions are required: 1. All new construction and substantial improvements must be designed (or modified) and adequately anchored to prevent flotation, collapse, and lateral movement of the structure. 2. All new construction and substantial improvements must be constructed with materials and utility equipment resistant to floo...
Flood Elevation Requirements
In unincorporated Union County, new and substantially improved residential structures in a mapped special flood hazard area must have their lowest floor built no lower than the regulatory flood protection elevation: the base flood elevation plus 2 feet of freeboard. The floodplain administrator enforces this under the Unified Development Ordinance.
Union County, NC Flood Elevation Freeboard Rule
Some RestrictionsUnion County Unified Development Ordinance § 65.020-B1
1. Residential Construction New construction and substantial improvement of any residential structure (including manufactured homes) must have the reference level, including basement, elevated no lower than the regulatory flood protection elevation. ... Regulatory Flood Protection Elevation For the purpose of administering and interpreting the flood damage protection regulations of Article 65, ...
All Union County ordinances
See every category we cover for Union County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
Union County Ordinance Hub →