Stormwater Management Ordinance

Residential Stormwater Management

New Residential Stormwater Management Plans

All residential developments are required to prepare a stormwater management plan.
Stormwater management plans can be prepared by the contractor or applicant, with proposed stormwater improvements sketched on a prepared site development plan.
No final survey of stormwater improvements required; an on-site staff review will be conducted to determine compliance.
No operation and maintenance agreement required.

Open Space Areas/Tree Retention

Homeowners and/or contractors may contact Town staff for assistance with identifying significant trees to retain, as well as open space portions to preserve before site clearing begins. These areas can be used for stormwater management, and may save you time and money. Staff will meet you on site and assist with this process. These areas will need to remain largely undisturbed during development.

Important Points

Choose stormwater improvements that works for your site; some will function better than others based on topographical changes, depth to groundwater table, and existing vegetation.
Communicate with the town early for guidance and technical assistance.
For redevelopment applications, the threshold for triggering stormwater management is 500 SF or more of built upon area.
Development applications that are taking advantage of the lot coverage bonus will still need a stormwater management plan prepared by a professional engineer. Please see Town of Nags Head Code of Ordinances Chapter 48- Zoning Ordinance for further clarification.

For assistance with residential stormwater management applications please contact Kate Jones kate.jones@nagsheadnc.gov. at 252-449-4209.

Commercial Stormwater Management

The purpose of stormwater management is to proactively protect, maintain and enhance the public health, safety, environment and general welfare by establishing requirements and procedures to control the adverse effects of fill, land disturbance and increased post-development stormwater runoff for the purposes of both water quantity management for flood prevention and water quality protection. Section 34-5 of the Town Code of Ordinances outlines general requirements for commercial, mixed-use and all non-single family or non-duplex residential development, including multifamily development.

New development of property with commercial uses, mixed land uses or residential uses other than single-family or duplex residential uses requires submission of a stormwater plan showing that the development will meet or exceed the runoff of volume generated from a 4.3” rainfall event from the proposed built-upon area and be directed into an approved stormwater management system.

Redevelopment of property with commercial uses, mixed land uses or residential uses other than single-family or duplex residential uses are required to manage the volume from a 4.3” rainfall event for the net increase in built-upon area only. Other requirements or provisions may apply.

Commercial-type stormwater management plans and supporting technical documents shall be prepared by a qualified and registered design professional knowledgeable within the field of work for the performance of the design, construction, and operation and maintenance of what is being proposed.

An NCDEQ Stormwater Management Permit may be required to comply with State Coastal Stormwater Rules 15A NCAC 2H.1019

For additional technical assistance contact David Ryan, david.ryan@nagsheadnc.gov. at 252-441-6221.