About us

The Durham County Stormwater and Erosion Control Division administers and enforces the sedimentation and erosion control sections 3.8, 12.10 and 15.5 of the Durham City/County Unified Development Ordinance and the Durham County Stormwater Ordinance. The Division also administers the County Stormwater Utility Fee.

ATTENTION: The Stormwater and Erosion Control Division work both in the office and remotely.  Staff will continue to be as responsive as possible either in person or through electronic means.

The Erosion Control Program

The Erosion Control program administers and enforces the sedimentation and erosion control sections of the Durham City-County Unified Development Ordinance. A state-delegated local program, it includes all privately funded, non-agricultural land-disturbing activities of more than 12,000 square feet in both the City of Durham and the unincorporated areas of Durham County. The Program conducts plan reviews, issues land disturbance permits, and inspects all permitted projects for compliance.

The Stormwater Program

The Stormwater program works to keep the regions watersheds clean and healthy by investigating illicit discharges and erosion control complaints, providing education and outreach activities throughout the community, and developing stormwater control measures, such as bioretention ponds, to minimize the pollution entering our stormwater.

The Stormwater program only administers and enforces the Durham County Stormwater Ordinance for unincorporated areas of Durham County. The Program enforces the nutrient management rules for several watersheds through development reviews including flood control, water quantity, and water quality control measures.

The Stormwater and Erosion Control Division administers the stormwater utility fee for properties located within the unincorporated areas of Durham County. The fee is based on the amount of impervious surface area on a property and other factors.