Raleigh, NC Environmental Rules: Stormwater Management (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Any land-disturbing activity or subdivision
- Governing manual
- Raleigh Stormwater Design Manual, incorporated by reference
- No-permit penalty
- $5,000 per day
- Failure to follow plan penalty
- $3,000 per day
- Criminal penalty
- Up to 90 days jail or $5,000 fine
- Enforcing department
- Engineering Services Department
Summary
Before any land-disturbing activity or subdivision, UDO Sec. 9.2.1 requires stormwater control measures, watercourse buffers, or both, built to the City's Stormwater Design Manual. Starting work without the required permit costs $5,000 per day under Sec. 9.2.5, and knowing or willful violations are a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days in jail or a $5,000 fine.
Applicability Prior to any land disturbing activity or subdivision of land, stormwater control measures, watercourse buffers or both must be provided in conformity with the requirements of this Article. Stormwater Design Manual Incorporated: The Raleigh Stormwater Design Manual and amendments, on file in the City Clerk's Office, is adopted by reference as part of this UDO. [Sec. 9.2.5.F] Work without a Permit: $5,000 per day for failure to secure a valid required stormwater control permit or watercourse buffer permit prior to conducting any land-disturbing activity, any development or expansion of existing development, any placement of built-upon area or impervious surfaces or any new use or construction.
Full Breakdown
Sec. A makes stormwater control mandatory: prior to any land disturbing activity or subdivision of land, stormwater control measures, watercourse buffers, or both must be provided under this Article. The City incorporates its Raleigh Stormwater Design Manual by reference, and where the manual or another law sets a stricter standard than this article, the stricter standard controls. 2 defines 'built-upon area' broadly to include asphalt, concrete, roofing, and other impervious surfaces at 100%, while listing specific exceptions, pervious pavers over geotextile fabric, slatted decks, unpaved trails, and draining artificial turf over a pervious base can count as 0%.
Sec. 2 sets impervious surface limits by zoning district for lots otherwise exempt from active stormwater controls: 20% in R-1, 25% in R-2, 38% in R-4, 51% in R-6, and 65% in R-10 and all other base districts, though an existing detached or attached house gets a one-time 400-square-foot exemption from those limits without triggering added controls. The Engineering Services Director interprets the article and rules on hydrology and hydraulics methods, with appeals following the standard administrative-decision process in Sec. 11. Inspections and enforcement fall to the Engineering Services Department, which can issue notices of violation, stop-work orders, and civil penalties, and refer uncollected penalties to the City Attorney for a civil action in Wake County Superior Court within three years of the assessment date.
Violations & Fines
Sec. 9.2.5.F sets specific civil penalties: $5,000 per day for starting land-disturbing activity, development, or placement of built-upon area without a required stormwater control or watercourse buffer permit; $3,000 per day for not following an approved stormwater control plan; and $2,500 per day for failing to maintain stormwater control facilities. Knowing or willful violations are also a misdemeanor punishable by up to 90 days' imprisonment or a $5,000 fine, and the City can seek injunctive relief in Wake County Superior Court in addition to any penalty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a stormwater permit to build an addition in Raleigh?
What counts as impervious 'built-upon area' in Raleigh's stormwater rules?
What happens if I start grading without a stormwater permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Raleigh
Compare Raleigh 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 Wake County handle stormwater management.