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NC DEQ »   About »   Divisions »   Energy, Mineral, and Land Resources »   Stormwater »   Stormwater Program »   NPDES MS4 Program »   Permittees & Permit Requirements

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 

MS4 Tipped Areas

Development activities within the unincorporated area of a county may be subject to the MS4 Post-Construction Site Runoff Control requirements [15A NCAC 02H .1017] if the development is within a U.S. Census designated Urbanized Area or the municipal sphere of influence around an MS4 [15A NCAC 02H .1016]. Counties with urbanizing areas are called “Tipped Counties” because they are subject (or tipped in) to just the post-construction portion of the MS4 requirements, but they do not receive MS4 permits. 

In the MS4 Tipped Area, the owner/operator of the development activity is required to obtain a stormwater post-construction permit if it meets the applicability criteria in 15A NCAC 02H .1001.  Post-Construction stormwater permitting for development in these areas may be performed by either the county, local government or DEQ:

  • List of Post-Construction Tipped Counties
  • Post-Construction Permitting Interactive Map

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

 

NPDES MS4 Program

  • Annual Self-Assessment
  • Audit Process
  • Forms & Resources
  • Permittees & Permit Requirements

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https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/energy-mineral-and-land-resources/stormwater/stormwater-program/npdes-ms4-0