Cumberland County, NC Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)

Any land-disturbing activity in unincorporated Cumberland County that uncovers more than one acre for residential development, or 20,000 square feet for any other development, needs a county engineering department-approved erosion and sedimentation control plan filed at least 30 days before work begins (Sec. 6-5(a); Sec. 6-42(a)). The county forwards the plan to the Cumberland Soil and Water Conservation District for review, and the engineering department must approve, modify or deny it within 30 days of a complete submission; silence for 30 days counts as automatic approval (Sec.

6-42(e)). Graded slopes and fills can be no steeper than the angle vegetation or control devices can hold, and exposed ground must get permanent ground cover, seeding, mulch or similar protection within 30 working days of completing any grading phase (Sec. 6-21(b),(c)). Work near a lake or natural watercourse needs an undisturbed buffer zone wide enough to confine visible siltation to the near 25 percent of the buffer, with a mandatory 25-foot minimum buffer along state-designated trout waters (Sec. 6-21(a)). A land-disturbing permit is valid for 12 months from issuance and can be extended six months on written request to the engineering department, and the board of commissioners sets permit fees by resolution (Sec. 6-41(b)-(d)). 00 hearing fee, with further appeal available to the North Carolina Sedimentation Control Commission (Sec. 6-43).