Permittees & Permit Requirements

Permittees

There are currently 122 permitted MS4 entities in North Carolina. Some MS4s elect to cooperatively implement their stormwater management programs and are issued a single permit naming them as co-permittees. There are currently 109 active NPDES MS4 permits:

List of MS4 permittees

PDF map of MS4 areas

Interactive MS4 Map Viewer

Permit Requirements

DEQ issues individual NPDES MS4 Permits for a five-year permit term and does not currently offer a general permit option. DEMLR has developed a Baseline Phase II MS4 Permit Template which provides the starting point for developing each individual MS4 permit. Every permit includes a Stormwater Management Plan (SWMP) and requirements for annual reporting. The SWMP contains enforceable Best Management Practices (BMPs) and measurable goals for the implementation of a comprehensive stormwater management program that complies with the permit requirements.

The primary components of a NPDES MS4 permit include program administration, any applicable Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) requirements, and programs to address each of the six required Minimum Control Measures (MCMs):

Public Education & Outreach
Public Involvement & Participation
Illicit Discharge Detection & Elimination
Construction Site Runoff Controls
Post-Construction Site Runoff Controls
Pollution Prevention & Good Housekeeping
- Municipal Facilities Operation and Maintenance
- Spill Response
- MS4 Operation and Maintenance
- Municipal SCM Operation and Maintenance
- Pesticide, Herbicide and Fertilizer Management
- Vehicle and Equipment Maintenance
- Pavement Management