High Point, NC Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Citywide baseline
- NPDES Phase II stormwater rules
- Extra rules apply in
- Water supply watershed districts
- Buffer width range
- 30 to 130 feet from streams
- Reviewing body
- Technical Review Committee (TRC)
- Legal basis
- N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 143-214.5, .7
Summary
High Point regulates stormwater and drainage jurisdiction-wide under NPDES Phase II, and layers stricter watershed-protection standards, density limits, surface water buffers, and stormwater control measures, onto development within the City's water supply watersheds, including Oak Hollow Lake, City Lake, Oakdale Reservoir, and Randleman Lake.
The standards in this section apply to all land within the City of High Point's zoning jurisdiction, including both water supply watersheds and non-water supply watersheds. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II stormwater regulations also apply jurisdiction-wide and are overlaid by districts that regulate development in water supply watersheds...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 9 | Development Ordinance: Supplement 14).
Full Breakdown
The Development Ordinance's watershed protection standards (§ 6.2) implement N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 143-214.5 and 143-214.7 and apply citywide: NPDES Phase II stormwater rules cover all land in High Point's zoning jurisdiction, while additional density and built-upon-area limits, surface water buffers (30-130 feet depending on stream classification and density), and required stormwater control measures apply specifically within the General Watershed Areas and Watershed Critical Areas around Oak Hollow Lake, City Lake, Oakdale Reservoir, and Randleman Lake. Development plans must be reviewed and approved by the Technical Review Committee, and land-disturbing activity over an acre also triggers a separate soil erosion and sedimentation control plan under § 6.3.
Violations & Fines
Undertaking regulated development without an approved watershed development plan, or violating buffer/density standards, is enforced under Chapter 9 and can require restoration, civil penalties, or plan revocation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does High Point regulate stormwater outside its drinking-water watersheds?
What triggers High Point's surface water buffer requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in High Point
Compare High Point 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.
Stormwater Management in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle stormwater management.