Permit Fees 2023 Updates
North Carolina’s 2023 Appropriations Act Session Law 2023-134 includes fee adjustments for 28 Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) programs to support the delivery of services and state employee salaries. Prior to the state budget, the fees for most of these programs remained unchanged since 2007, while the technical demands, operating costs and salary requirements for the programs continued to increase. The revenue from the 2023 fee adjustments will allow DEQ to support the dedicated staff who provide critical services to North Carolina residents and businesses and ensure DEQ can meet the growing needs of the state.
Division of Energy, Mineral and Land Resources
Permit | Activity | Category | Fee | Legal Authority/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NPDES Stormwater Permits | | Industrial NPDES individual permit | $1,200 | |
Construction or Industrial NPDES general permit Certificate of Coverage | $120 | |||
NPDES MS4 major permit | $4,200 | |||
NPDES MS4 minor permit | $1,000 | |||
No Exposure Certification - application fee | $250 | |||
Major modification | 30% of annual fee applicable to permit | |||
State Stormwater Permits |
| New permit or major modification – 0 or 1 Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs) | $1,000 | |
New permit or major modification – 2 SCMs | $1,250 | |||
New permit or major modification – 3 SCMs | $1,750 | |||
New permit or major modification – 4 or more SCMs | $2,250 | |||
Minor modification | $250 | |||
Renewal or transfer | $750 | |||
Combination renewal and transfer | $1,500 | |||
New coverage under a general permit | $700 | |||
Wind Energy Facility Fees | | New facility or expansion of facility | lesser of $200 per megawatt or $50,000 | |
Annual fee | $75 per permitted megawatt |
Division of Waste Management
Permit | Activity | Category | Fee | Legal Authority/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Coal Ash Management | Each public utility with a coal combustion residual surface impoundment must pay an annual fee. | Annual Fee | 0.03% of the NC jurisdictional revenues of the public utility | |
Construction and Demolition | The construction and operation of a landfill facility for the acceptance of construction and demolition waste or debris as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B. | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Construction and Demolition Landfill accepting less than 25,000 tons/year of solid waste | $4,813 / year | |||
Construction and Demolition Landfill accepting 25,000 tons/year or more of solid waste | $5,500 / year | |||
Post-Closure Construction and Demolition Landfill | $500 | |||
EPA ID Number Requirements | The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) identification number requirement is not an actual permit, but a registration process with the state of North Carolina. The activity that requires an EPA identification number is for a hazardous waste generator that generates quantities, in a calendar month, greater than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of non-acute hazardous waste; or 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) or more of acute hazardous waste; or more than 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of any residue or contaminated soil, water, or other debris resulting from the cleanup of a spill. A generator that generates quantities above the threshold quantities may obtain an EPA identification number by requesting an EPA identification number electronically in EPA's RCRA Info database. | SQG (small quantity generator) generating 100 kilograms or less than 1,000 kilograms/month | $300 | |
LQG (large quantity generator) generating more than 1,000 kilograms/month and/or 1 kilogram of acute waste | $1,400 + additional fee of .70 cents per ton of waste generated | |||
Incinerator Permit | The construction and operation of a solid waste management facility for the acceptance and incineration of solid waste as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Annual fee for an incinerator accepting less than 200 tons per day of solid waste - annual fee | $500 | |||
Annual fee for an incinerator accepting more than 200 tons per day of solid waste | $1,000 | |||
Land Clearing and Inert Debris | The construction and operation of a landfill facility for the acceptance of land clearing and inert debris as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B. | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Land Clearing and Inert Debris Landfill | $900 | |||
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Permit | The construction and operation of a landfill facility for the acceptance of municipal solid waste as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill accepting less than 100,000 tons/year of solid waste | $6,125 | |||
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill accepting 100,000 tons/year or more but less than 250,000 tons/year of solid waste | $7,000 | |||
Municipal Solid Waste Landfill accepting 250,000 tons/year or more of solid waste | $8,750 | |||
Post-Closure Municipal Solid Waste Landfill | $1,000 | |||
Solid Waste Management Facility - | An application for a modification of a permit issued for a municipal solid waste landfill, construction and demolition landfill, industrial landfill, or transfer station. | Application Fee for Permit Modification | $500 | |
Solid Waste Management Facility - | When a cumulative impact review is required in accordance with G.S. 130A-294(a)(4)c for a new permit application for a solid waste management facility. | Supplemental Application Fee | $1,000 | |
Post-Closure Solid Waste | When a post-closure municipal solid waste landfill, post-closure construction and demolition landfill, post-closure industrial landfill, and post-closure tire monofill is required by the Department to conduct assessment and corrective action activities. | Supplemental Annual Fee (only in years during which assessments or actions are required) | $750 | |
Septage Management | Anyone engaged in the activity of pumping, transporting, storing, treating or disposing of septage must have a septage management firm permit prior to commencing operation. | Pumper - 1 Truck | $800 | |
Pumper - 2 Trucks | $950 | |||
Pumper - 3 or More Trucks | $1,500 | |||
Non-Pumper (A firm that operates an SDTF, septage detention treatment or storage facility, or SLAS, septage land application site but does not engage in the business of pumping or transporting septage.) | $500 | |||
Solid Waste Composting Permit | The construction and operation of a solid waste composting facility. Large and small composting facilities are defined under North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A NCAC 13B .1400. | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Large Compost Facility | $800 | |||
Small Compost Facility | $300 | |||
Tire Monofill Permit | The construction, operation, or post-closure maintenance of a landfill facility for the acceptance of tire waste as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Tire Monofill | $1,000 | |||
Post-Closure Tire Monofill | $500 | |||
Transfer Station Permit | The construction and operation of a solid waste management facility for the acceptance, handling and transferring of municipal solid waste as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Transfer station accepting less than 25,000 tons/year of solid waste | $1,500 | |||
Transfer station accepting 25,000 tons/year or more of solid waste | $1,875 | |||
Treatment and Processing | The construction and operation of a treatment and processing facility for the handling of solid waste for final disposal or for utilization by reclaiming or recycling as defined in North Carolina General Statute 130A or North Carolina Administrative Code Title 15A Subchapter 13B | Application fee for new permits | 25% of annual fee | |
Treatment and Processing Facility | $750 |
Division of Water Resources
Permit | Activity | Category | Fee | Legal Authority/ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
NPDES Individual | Major: Point source discharge of 1,000,000 or more gallons per day, a publicly owned treatment works (POTW) that administers at POTW treatment program, or an industrial waste treatment works that has a high toxic pollutant potential. | Major Individual NPDES Permit | $4,625 | |
Minor Individual NPDES Permit | $1,150 | |||
Major Permit Modification (either type of permit) | 30% of the annual fee | |||
Coverage under Discharge | Single-Family Residence: General permit coverage for point source discharge or individual non discharge permit from a single-family residence. | Single-Family Residence | $60 | |
Wastewater: General permit coverage for point source discharge of wastewater. | Wastewater Discharge | $100 | ||
| Major Permit Modification (either type of permit) | 30% of the annual fee | ||
Authorization to Construct | Construction activities for a domestic wastewater treatment facility where a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Permit (NPDES) has been issued by the N.C. Division of Water Resources. No facility can begin construction and no construction contracts can be awarded until final plans and specifications have been submitted and an Authorization to Construct has been issued to the permittee. | Application fee | $1,000 | |
Closed-Loop Recycle Systems | Recycle systems typically are for non-contained vehicle wash facilities, as well as wet-decking facilities used to keep lumber supplies moist. All of these facilities utilize water in a recycled fashion and do not discharge wastewater to the ground or surface waters of the state. The treatment systems usually consist of earthen basins or tankage designed to remove solids (i.e., sand, grit, etc.), as well as components used to remove oils and grease that may wash off of vehicles. | Annual Fee | $520 | |
Permit Modification | 30% of the annual fee | |||
Lab Certification Fees | The analysis of chemical and microbiological parameters performed by commercial, municipal, industrial and field environmental laboratories. The results of these analyses are reported through self-monitoring programs to the N.C. Division of Water Resources and N.C. Division of Waste Management. | Field Laboratory Certification | $250 | |
Commercial Field Laboratory Certification | $500 | |||
Municipal/Industrial Laboratory Certification | $2,000 | |||
Commercial Laboratory Certification | $6,500 | |||
Out-of-state labs | 150% amount set out in specific category | |||
Residuals Management | Any treatment, storage, transport, use and disposal of residuals that are generated from wastewater treatment facility, water supply treatment facility, or air pollution control facility | Non-Discharge Major Permits (> 300 acres of land required or > 3,000 annual dry tons for distribution) | $1,760 | |
Non-Discharge Minor Permits (< 300 acres of land required or < 3,000 annual dry tons for distribution) | $1,160 | |||
Major Permit Modification (either type of permit) | 30% of the annual fee | |||
Sewer Extension Permit | Construction and operation of new sewer systems by the designated owner. Sewer systems may consist of gravity mains, force mains, and pump stations used for the purpose of conveying wastewater to a designated wastewater treatment facility. These systems also include “Alternative” sewers such as pressure sewers, vacuum sewers, septic tank/effluent pump (STEP) systems, or other alternate sewer systems that discharge to another system. Sewer extensions that are not of “alternative” design and do not require a variance from the requirements of 15A NCAC 02T or the MDC may apply for permits through the fast-track permitting process | Application Fee | $600 | |
Water Quality Certifications | Major Certification: Water quality certification involving one acre or more of wetland fill or 150 feet or more of stream impact. | Major Water Quality Certification | $767.00 | |
Minor Certification: Water quality certification involving less than one acre of wetland fill or less than 150 feet of stream impact. | Minor Water Quality Certification | $323.00 | ||
Wastewater Operator Fees | Operators that perform daily operations management at classified wastewater treatment facilities are required to be certified to operate these facilities, are responsible for the proper operation of these facilities and the compliance of the system with all permit requirements. | Examination Including Certificate | $85 | |
Temporary Certificate | $200 | |||
Temporary Certification Renewal | $300 | |||
Conditional Certificate | $75.00 | |||
Reciprocity Certificate | $100 | |||
Voluntary Conversion Certificate | $50.00 | |||
Annual Renewal Per Certification | $50.00 | |||
Replacement of Certificate | $20 | |||
Late Payment of Annual Renewal | $50 + current/past due annual renewal fees +$100 penalty per year where annual renewal fees were not paid | |||
Mailing List Request | $25 |
Public Water System Operating Permit
Activity | Category | Fee | Legal Authority/ |
|---|---|---|---|
Non-Community Water Systems | Non-transient non-community systems | $190 | |
Community Water Systems (Number of Persons Served) | 50 or fewer | $320 | |
More than 50 but no more than 100 | $340 | ||
More than 100 but no more than 200 | $410 | ||
More than 200 but no more than 300 | $430 | ||
More than 300 but no more than 400 | $480 | ||
More than 400 but no more than 500 | $520 | ||
More than 500 but no more than 750 | $970 | ||
More than 750 but no more than 1000 | $1,010 | ||
More than 1000 but no more than 2000 | $1,050 | ||
More than 2000 but no more than 3000 | $1,090 | ||
More than 3000 but no more than 4000 | $1,690 | ||
More than 4000 but no more than 5000 | $1,830 | ||
More than 5000 but no more than 7500 | $2,410 | ||
More than 7500 but no more than 10,000 | $2,580 | ||
More than 10,000 but no more than 25,000 | $3,250 | ||
More than 25,000 but no more than 50,000 | $3,660 | ||
More than 50,000 but no more than 75,000 | $5,310 | ||
More than 75,000 but no more than 100,000 | $5,840 | ||
More than 100,000 but no more than 250,000 | $6,380 | ||
More than 250,000 but no more than 500,000 | $6,910 | ||
More than 500,000 | $7,440 |
Public Water System Plan Review
Activity | Category | Fee | Legal Authority/ Statutory Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
Plan Review Fee - Distribution System | Construction of water lines, less than 5000 linear feet | $300 | North Carolina General Statute (N.C.G.S.) 130A-328 |
Construction of water lines, 5000 linear feet or more | $400 | ||
Other construction or alteration to a distribution system | $150 | ||
Plan Review Fee -Groundwater System | Construction of a new groundwater system or adding a new well | $400 | |
Alteration to an existing groundwater system | $200 | ||
Plan Review Fee -Surface Water System | Construction of a new surface water treatment facility | $500 | |
Alteration to an existing surface water treatment facility | $300 | ||
Water System Management Plan review | $150 | ||
Miscellaneous changes or maintenance not covered above | $100 |