Coastal property owners who need to replace docks, piers, bulkheads or similar structures damaged by Tropical Storm Michael along sounds, rivers and creeks may be authorized to do so more quickly through an amended emergency general permit offered by the N.C. Division of Coastal Management.
“We want residents along our coast to be able to rebuild quickly from the damage caused by Hurricane Florence and Tropical Storm Michael,” said Michael Regan, secretary of the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality. “Amending this emergency general permit expedites this process in the fastest way possible and helps North Carolina’s coastal residents get back on their feet.”
The emergency permit expedites the approval process for rebuilding docks, piers, bulkheads and similar water dependent structures that meet state standards. The emergency permit may also be used for dune reconstruction and maintenance dredging of existing channels.
The normal $200 permit fee is waived for the emergency permit, and, in many cases, no site visit or adjacent property owner notification is required.
Secretary Regan amended the emergency permit to include Tropical Storm Michael today. It can be used in all 20 coastal counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrell, and Washington. The permit does not eliminate the need to obtain any other required state, local or federal authorization. To see Regan’s signed activation, go to https://files.nc.gov/ncdeq/EmergencyMajor_Michael.pdf
Emergency permits must be obtained, and all work must be completed, by Sept. 20, 2019.
The emergency permit cannot be used for rebuilding houses and does not apply to the replacement of oceanfront structures.
Those who want to apply for the emergency general permit can help staff with the N.C. Division of Coastal Management review your request as quickly as possible by following these guidelines:
- First, call the Division of Coastal Management office that covers your county.
|
County |
Office Location |
Address |
Telephone |
|
Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Pasquotank and Perquimans |
Elizabeth City |
1367 U.S. 17 South Elizabeth City |
252 264-3901 |
|
Carteret, Craven, Pamlico, and Onslow County north of the New River (including Jacksonville, Hubert, and Swansboro) |
Morehead City |
400 Commerce Ave. Morehead City |
252-808-2808 or 1-888-4RCOAST (1-888-472-6278) |
|
Beaufort, Bertie, Hertford, Hyde, Tyrrell and Washington |
Washington |
943 Washington Square Mall Washington |
252- 946-6481 |
|
Brunswick, New Hanover, Pender, and Onslow south of the New River (including Topsail Island) |
Wilmington (Currently Closed) |
127 Cardinal Drive Ext. Wilmington |
910-796-7215 |
- Provide your name, name of any authorized agent working on your behalf, your address, phone number and the project location. Include any detailed information that will be helpful, such as the state road number, the name of the water body and the name of the subdivision or development.
- You will be required to pick up your permit at a division office. If requested, bring with you a description of the extent of the repair, replacement, dune reconstruction or maintenance dredging you need to do, including dimensions and shoreline length. Pre- and post-storm pictures of the project are helpful.
- For projects involving dredging, please provide confirmation that the adjacent riparian property owners have been notified by certified mail of the proposed work. The notice should instruct neighbors to provide any comments about the proposed work to the Division of Coastal Management within 10 days of receiving the notice, and that a lack of response by them will be interpreted as no objection. Or, you can provide a signed statement of no objection from both adjacent riparian property owners. Forms are available here:https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/coastal-management-permits/adjacent-riparian-property.
- If you have had any other CAMA permit issued for your property, please inform the division staff. Those permits may contain information that will help staff with the Division of Coastal Management review your repair or replacement request.
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