Animal Feeding Operations
Public Notice for 2027 Draft NPDES General Permits
Draft NPDES General Permits for Swine, Cattle, and Wet Poultry operations are posted for public notice and comment. See Public Notice for 2027 Draft NPDES General Permits Tab below.
Purpose and Function
The Animal Feeding Operations Program is responsible for the permitting and compliance activities of animal feeding operations across the state. This website provides contact information for central and regional office staff. The most recent versions of documents and forms are available for download. Also, this site provides important updates, recent news and useful links to other related websites.
Nearly all North Carolina swine farms, as well as wet poultry and cattle, are subject to the requirements of their respective state general permits. Every five years, a new general permit is issued. Below are information related to permits and permit renewal process.
| Mailing Address | Street Address |
|---|---|
Animal Feeding Operations Program Telephone: (919) 707-9129 | (FedEx, UPS, Hand Delivery) Animal Feeding Operations Program |
Waste Level Gauge Certification Memo
NEW Animal Feeding Operations Permit Fee
General Permit Resources
Public Notice for 2027 Draft NPDES General Permits
Notice Requesting Public Comment from the Division of Water resources on intent to reissue NDPES General Animal Operations Permits:
A public comment period concerning the reissuance of NPDES General Permits is now open for the following types of animal operations:
- NPDES General Permit NCA200000 – Swine Operations
- NPDES General Permit NCA300000 – Cattle and Dairy Operations
- NPDES General Permit NCA400000 – Poultry Operations with a liquid animal waste management system
Purpose: The Department of Environmental Quality, Division of Water Resources proposes to reissue NPDES General Permits for animal waste operations subject to specific limitations and special conditions. The Division of Water Resources pursuant to NCGS 143-215.4(b)(1) and (2) and to 15A NCAC 2T .0111 has opened a 30-day period to receive pertinent public comments.
All information received by Dec. 18, 2026 will be taken into consideration in finalizing the permitting decisions.
Draft Permits and Fact Sheets:
- Fact Sheet
- NCA200000 Swine NPDES General Permit Draft
- NCA200000 Swine NPDES General Permit Draft - Redline
- NCA300000 Cattle NPDES General Permit Draft
- NCA300000 Cattle NPDES General Permit Draft - Redline
- NCA400000 Wet Poultry NPDES General Permit Draft
- NCA400000 Wet Poultry NPDES General Permit Draft - Redline
- List of Proposed Changes
When: Public comments will be accepted from Nov. 13, 2026 through Dec. 18, 2026.
Comments can be submitted to the address, phone or email listed below:
Animal Feeding Operations
NC Division of Water Resources
1636 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, North Carolina 27699-1636
Phone: 919.707.3702
publiccommentsDWR@deq.nc.gov
2019 State General Permit
NPDES General Permits:
The current NPDES General Permits are effective August 15, 2022 through June 30, 2027.
Fact Sheet on Renewal of NPDES General Permits
Additional Resources:
Although the N.C. Department of Agriculture Veterinary Division is the lead agency overseeing animal disposal, the documents below are provided for your convenience.
Compositing of Mass Animal Mortality
NCDA & CS Mass Animal Mortality Management Plan for Catastrophic Natural Disasters