Riparian Buffer Protection Programs

Purpose

To help protect water quality in North Carolina, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Water Resources has in-place riparian buffer rules protecting vegetated areas adjacent to intermittent and perennial streams, lakes, reservoirs, ponds, estuaries and modified natural streams. Information and links provided on this page address applicability of these rules, protection requirements, authorization/mitigation of impacts and stormwater considerations.  

• The Neuse, Tar-Pamlico and Catawba rules were established to protect estuaries and downstream lakes through their buffer nutrient removal function.
• Randleman Lake and Jordan Lake rules were enacted to protect water supply sources.
• Goose Creek rules were created to sustain and recover the federally endangered Carolina Heelsplitter freshwater mussel. 

Maps and tools 

Use the N.C. Riparian Buffer Area map to search for an address:

 NC Riparian Buffer Area Map

See the U.S. Geological Survey Topo/NRCS Published Soil Survey Mapping Tool for access to compiled Natural Resource Conservation Service scanned soil surveys & U.S. Geologic Survey topographic layers for North Carolina:

 USGS Topo/ NRCS Published Soil Survey Mapping Tool 

Learn More: Riparian Buffer Rules FAQs 

Riparian Buffer Rules (including table of uses)

Riparian Buffer FAQs
Helpful Documents
Riparian Buffer Authorizations and Variances
Stream Determination Request Form

New rules effective June 15, 2020:
Neuse, Tar-Pamlico, Catawba, Randleman, & Goose Creek
(*Jordan Rules remain unchanged) 

The tables linked below provide a reference for prior and current citations. Additional tools are also provided to help outline major changes as well as unchanged elements in the rules.

Fact sheet 
Overview (more detailed summary of updates)
Detailed Presentation
Cross-reference table (sorted by new as well as old citations)

Buffer Mapping Resources

USGS Topo/ NRCS Published Soil Survey Mapping Tool 

Riparian Buffer Protection Programs Map (PDF)

NC Riparian Buffer Area Map (Online interactive map)

Randleman Lake Watershed Map  (PTWRA.org)

NRCS Soil Surveys for North Carolina Archive 

(Instructions for finding the most recent soil survey via NRCS Archive)

Most recent published Soil Survey Table

USGS National Map Viewer (USGS online interactive topographic maps)

Clarification of USGS National Map and clarification of "necessary infrastructure" (Public Notice issued 11/23/21)

Model Ordinances

Jordan Lake

Buffer Clarification Memos

Many of the clarification memos listed in the categories below are now incorporated into recent buffer rule revisions. Where a topic discussed in a memo has been incorporated into rule, the rule supersedes the buffer clarification memo.