Craven County, NC Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Applies to
- New subdivisions with land-disturbing activity
- Core duty
- Protect downstream streambanks/channels from accelerated erosion
- State tie-in
- NC Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, G.S. 143-34.12
- Reviewing agency
- Craven County Planning and Inspections Department
- Enforcement
- Notice of violation or stop-work order, ch. 41 § 901
Summary
Craven County's subdivision ordinance requires new development to protect downstream streambanks and channels from erosion caused by land-disturbing activity. Where a storm drainage system can't reasonably be extended to a subdivision, the developer must design a surface drainage system that protects the development from water damage and meets state soil-conservation standards.
(b)Where feasible, the Subdivider shall connect to an existing storm drainage system.(c)Where an existing storm drainage system cannot feasibly be extended to the subdivision, a surface drainage system shall be designed to protect the proposed development from water damage.(d)The proposed surface drainage design system shall meet all of the applicable rules and regulations of the North Carolina soil conservation authorities.(e)Streambanks and channels downstream from any land disturbing activity shall be protected from increased degradation or accelerated bank erosion caused by increased velocity of runoff from the land disturbing activity in accordance with the North Carolina Sedimentation Pollution Control Act, G.S. 143-34.12, Chapter 113A, and Article 4 and the North Carolina Administrative Code, Title 15, Chapter 4.
Full Breakdown
1 of the county's subdivision regulations (Chapter 41, Article II) sets utility and drainage standards for every residential subdivision not tied into a municipal or county water and sewer system. Subsection (b) directs the subdivider to connect to an existing storm drainage system wherever feasible; subsection (c) requires a purpose-built surface drainage system when extending an existing system isn't feasible, designed to protect the development from water damage; and subsection (d) requires that design to meet all applicable rules of the North Carolina soil conservation authorities.
S. 12 and Chapter 113A, Article 4) and to Title 15, Chapter 4 of the North Carolina Administrative Code. In practice, the Planning and Inspections Department reviews subdivision plats against these standards before granting preliminary and final plat approval, and a plat that doesn't show adequate streambank protection is grounds for disapproval under the plat review procedures set out earlier in Article II.
Violations & Fines
A subdivision plat that fails to show compliant erosion protection can be disapproved by the Planning Board or Board of Commissioners under the plat review procedures in §§ 403-407, and the general Chapter 41 enforcement powers in § 901 let the Planning Director issue a notice of violation or a stop-work order for land-disturbing work that proceeds out of compliance, with stop-work violations treated as a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Craven County have its own erosion-control rule for new development?
What if there's no existing storm drainage system to hook into?
Who reviews erosion protection on a new subdivision plat?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Craven County
Compare Craven County to another location·View the North Carolina environmental rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.