Stormwater Requirements for Development

The Chatham County Stormwater Management Ordinance requires that a stormwater plan be submitted for projects that will exceed 20,000 square feet of land disturbance. This requirement applies to all new development and redevelopment within County jurisdiction, including private, public, state, and federal development not covered by a separate NPDES permit. Chatham County does not have jurisdiction over stormwater in Town of Pittsboro or Siler City. Stormwater Management Plans must address the following:

• Capture and treat runoff volume for the 1-year, 1-hour storm event
• Minimum removal of 85% of Total Suspended Solids (TSS)
• Post development peak flow discharges not to exceed the pre-development rates for 1-, 2-, 5-, 10-, and 25- year, 24-hour storm events

Please note that all newly constructed single-family residential lots or those constructed after November 24, 2008 are required to follow the design standards in Appendix C of the Chatham County Stormwater Ordinance.

Stormwater Plan & Submittal Requirements

1. The Stormwater Permit Application, plan requirements and Stormwater Fees shall be submitted to the Watershed Protection Department for review and approval prior to any land-disturbing activity. Please note that an Operation & Maintenance Agreement must be provided at the time the application is submitted. Please use the following link to access NCDEQ's webpage containing O&M EZ Forms. 

2. Apply for a stormwater permit via OpenGov Permitting Portal. Electronic submission email may be requested.

3. Submit (1) hard copy plan and associated documents. Stormwater calculations manual must be BINDED.

Note:  Resubmittals are not required to apply for a new stormwater permit. Additionally, a comment response letter must be provided with resubmittals stating specifically how each review comment was addressed.

As-Built Submissions

Upon completion of construction, Stormwater As-Built submittals and drawings are required. Email stormwater as-built submittals to taylor.burton@chathamcountync.gov.

Before turning over the Stormwater Control Measure to an HOA or other responsible party a Responsible Party Contact Form is required. Please follow the link to access the Responsible Party Contact Form: https://arcg.is/1KSuDf 

Inspection and Maintenance Requirements

All permitted stormwater control measures in Chatham County require an annual inspection for maintenance. All inspection forms are to be submitted to the Stormwater Administrator by December 31st of each year. This includes subdivisions with SCMs, in which inspection and maintenance is required by the HOA. 

Each year a Responsible Party Contact Form is required to be submitted with the annual inspection reports. Please follow the link to access the Responsible Party Contact Form: https://arcg.is/1KSuDf

This is a legal requirement.

Annual Inspections may be sent to: stormwater@chathamcountync.gov

Supplementary Information

NCDEQ Stormwater Design Manual 

Chatham County GIS

Web Soil Survey

NOAA Precipitation Data For Chatham County

Appendix A - Chatham County Rainfall Distributions

Jordan Lake Information

General Environmental Documentation Submittal Form

Environmental Review Advisory Committee

Stormwater Program Contacts

Justin Hasenfus - Permitting & Plan Requirements
Phone: (919) 545-8344, Email: justin.hasenfus@chathamcountync.gov 

Taylor Burton - As-Builts Submissions, Annual Inspections, and all else
Phone: (984) 214-1456, Email: taylor.burton@chathamcountync.gov

Have Stormwater Drainage Issues? Stormwater Drainage Issues Information Sheet