Rainwater harvesting is legal and encouraged in Apex. North Carolina state law prohibits local governments from banning cisterns and rain barrels used for irrigation: NCGS 160A-202 provides that no city ordinance may prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the installation and maintenance of cisterns and rain barrel collection systems used for irrigation purposes. NC Session Law 2009-243 amended the state plumbing code to allow cistern water for indoor toilet flushing and outdoor irrigation. Permits are required only for construction of non-potable water systems and plumbed connections.
North Carolina is a rainwater-friendly state. NCGS 160A-202 provides: 'No city ordinance may prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, the installation and maintenance of cisterns and rain barrel collection systems used to collect water for irrigation purposes,' although a city may regulate them to protect public health and safety and prevent them from becoming a public nuisance. Apex therefore allows rain barrels and cisterns for outdoor irrigation use without a town permit for a simple downspout-fed barrel. Per NC Session Law 2009-243, harvested rainwater may also be used indoors for toilet flushing and outdoors for irrigation when plumbed through a cistern system compliant with the NC State Plumbing Code, NC Appendix C (Rainwater Recycling Systems), and NCDEQ Stormwater Design Manual Section C-7. Plumbed cistern systems and rainwater systems connected to building plumbing require a plumbing permit from Apex Inspections under NCGS 160D-1110. Backflow prevention is required on any cross-connection with the Apex potable water system. Apex Water Resources promotes rain barrels through its conservation programs alongside the joint Cary/Apex water system's conservation messaging.
There is no town penalty for installing a rain barrel for outdoor irrigation. Operating a plumbed cistern indoor-reuse system without the required plumbing permit is a building-code violation enforced by Apex Inspections under NCGS 160D-1110 with stop-work and after-the-fact permitting. Cross-connections that contaminate the public water supply trigger immediate disconnection and NCDEQ Public Water Supply Section enforcement.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Apex, NC
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Apex, NC
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Apex, NC
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Apex, NC
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Apex, NC
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Apex, NC
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