September 7, 2016 Overview of § 143-214.23A. Limitations on local government riparian buffer requirements. Karen Higgins, Division of Water Resources Became effective October 1, 2015 Section 13.1 of Session Law 2015-246 (House Bill 44)

Limitations on local government riparian buffer requirements Except as provided in this section, a local government may not enact, implement, or enforce an ordinance that establishes a riparian buffer requirement that exceeds riparian buffer requirements necessary to comply with or implement Federal or state law A condition of a permit, certificate, or other approval issued by a federal or state agency Department of Environmental Quality 143-214.23A (b)

Limitations on local government riparian buffer requirements LG ordinance = state buffer rule* LG ordinance > state buffer rule* Necessary to comply with or implement federal or state law Condition of a permit, certificate, or other approval issued by a federal or state agency Enacted prior to August 1, 1997 and meets other listed criteria Apply to EMC with scientific study * State buffer rules Neuse Tar-Pamlico Catawba Jordan Lake Randleman Lake Goose Creek Department of Environmental Quality 143-214.23A (b), (c), (d)

LG ordinance > state buffer rule 143-214.23A (c) LG ordinance > state buffer rule Enacted before August 1, 1997, if The ordinance included findings that the requirement was imposed for purposes that include: The protection of aesthetics, fish and wildlife habitat, and recreational use by maintaining water temperature, healthy tree canopy and understory, and The protection of the natural shoreline through minimization of erosion and potential chemical pollution in addition to the protection of water quality and the prevention of excess nutrient runoff, and The ordinance would permit small or temporary structures within 50 feet of the water body and The ordinance would permit docks and piers within and along the edge of the water body Department of Environmental Quality

LG ordinance > state buffer rule 143-214.23A (d) LG ordinance > state buffer rule (Scientific Study) Application shall include: LG ordinance Scientific studies of the local environmental and physical conditions that support the necessity of the buffer requirement Any other information requested by the EMC Within 90 days, EMC must approve, approve with modifications or disapprove application Department of Environmental Quality

Which ordinances? Alamance County (J) Graham (J) Alamance Village (J) Ossipee (J) Alamance Village (J) Green Level (J) Pitt County (N, T) Apex (J) Greensboro (J, R) Pittsboro (J) Archdale (R) Guilford County (J, R) Pleasant Garden (J) Burke County (C) Haw River (J) Randleman (R) Burlington (J) High Point (R) Randolph County (R) Carrboro (J) Hillsborough (N) Reidsville (J) Cary (J) Jamestown (R) Rockingham County (J) Caswell County (J) Johnston County (N) Sedalia (J) Chapel Hill (J) Kernersville (J, R) Stokesdale (J) Chatham County (J) McDowell County (C) Summerfield (J) Durham City (J) Mebane (J) Swepsonville (J) Durham County (J) Mecklenburg Co. - Mint Hill (G) Trinity (R) Elon (J) Morrisville (J, N) Wake (J) Forsyth County (R) Oak Ridge (J) Whitsett (J) Gibsonville (J) Orange (J, N) Winston-Salem (R) Neuse (N) Tar-Pamlico (T) Catawba (C) Jordan (J) Randleman (R) Goose Creek (G)

No action planned Alamance County (J) High Point (R) Apex (J) Jamestown (R) Archdale (R) Johnston County (N) Burke County (C) McDowell County (C) Caswell County (J) Pitt County (N, T) Chapel Hill (J) Pittsboro (J) Chatham County (J) Randleman (R) Durham City (J) Reidsville (J) Durham County (J) Rockingham County (J) Forsyth County (R) Summerfield (J) Green Level (J) Winston-Salem (R) Neuse (N) Tar-Pamlico (T) Catawba (C) Jordan (J) Randleman (R) Goose Creek (G) Department of Environmental Quality 143-214.23A (b)

Modifying Ordinance Alamance Village (J) Kernersville (J, R) Burlington (J) Mebane (J) Elon (J) Mecklenburg Co. - Mint Hill (G) Gibsonville (J) Morrisville (J, N) Graham (J) Oak Ridge (J) Greensboro (J, R) Pleasant Garden (J) Guilford County (J, R) Sedalia (J) Haw River (J) Stokesdale (J) Hillsborough (N) Whitsett (J) Neuse (N) Tar-Pamlico (T) Catawba (C) Jordan (J) Randleman (R) Goose Creek (G) Department of Environmental Quality 143-214.23A (b)

No Response / Not Applicable Randolph County (R) Ossipee (J) Trinity (R) Swepsonville (J) Neuse (N) Tar-Pamlico (T) Catawba (C) Jordan (J) Randleman (R) Goose Creek (G) Department of Environmental Quality 143-214.23A (b)

Scientific Study Carrboro (J) Cary (J) Orange (J, N) Wake (J) Neuse (N) Tar-Pamlico (T) Catawba (C) Jordan (J) Randleman (R) Goose Creek (G) Department of Environmental Quality 143-214.23A (b)

Timeline Date Event October 1, 2015 Statute became effective November 10, 2015 Info meeting with LGs August 15, 2016 Studies submitted to EMC September 7, 2016 Info item at WQC November 9 & 10, 2016 WQC & EMC must approve or disapprove studies/ordinances January 1, 2017 Ordinances that do not comply with statute are not longer in effect or enforceable

Questions Department of Environmental Quality NC DPR Photo courtesy of NC State Parks