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

2. 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
A (b)

3. 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
A (b), (c), (d)

4. LG ordinance > state buffer rule
A (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

5. LG ordinance > state buffer rule
A (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

6. 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)

7. 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
A (b)

8. 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
A (b)

9. 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
A (b)

10. 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
A (b)

11. 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

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