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    City of Greensboro / County of Guilford


    The City of Greensboro has enacted a Stormwater Ordinance in order to establish minimum stormwater management requirements and controls to protect and safeguard the general health, safety, and welfare of the public residing in watersheds within this jurisdiction.  The City of Greensboro is the permitting authority for all land disturbing activities and requires the land owner to maintain all on-site stormwater control facilities and all open space areas (e.g. parks or “green” areas) required by the approved stormwater control plan. The City of Greensboro will only provide construction permits to projects that establish a plan to manage stormwater runoff occurring during the construction process. The City of Greensboro, under the NPDES program, also has the authority to inspect properties for noncompliance and can issue a notice of violation (NOV) for any deficiency or infraction onsite. Property owners are responsible for the maintenance of any stormwater facilities or practices located on the property. The City of Greensboro has the authority to inspect stormwater facilities and practices in order to ascertain that they are properly maintained and functioning.

    City of Greensboro, North Carolina Stormwater Management Manual

    30-12-7.1 General 

      Purposes and Objectives

    The regulations of this section are intended to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare by preventing the introduction of potentially harmful materials into the city storm sewer system; to protect property from potential stormwater damage; to maintain and enhance water quality; and to meet the requirements in the City's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit for Stormwater Discharges. Other specific objectives of these regulations are to: 

    1. provide for the enforcement of the city’s stormwater quality management program;
    2. reduce the discharge of pollutants to the storm sewer system to the maximum extent practicable by requiring, where appropriate, the use of best management practices, structural and/or nonstructural stormwater quantity and quality control measures and other provisions; 
    3. provide for the inspection and proper maintenance of structural and nonstructural stormwater controls and the municipal separate storm sewer; 
    4. prohibit non-stormwater discharges to the city storm sewer and require the removal of illicit connections to the city storm sewer; 
    5. prevent improper disposal of materials that degrade water quality; 
    6. permit sampling and monitoring for pollutants such as those associated with illicit discharges, improper disposal, industrial and construction activities, and the application of pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers; and 
    7. reduce erosion associated with stormwater runoff. 

    Applicability

    The regulations of this section apply govern the development and use of land and structures within the corporate limits of the city. 

    30-12-7.2 Commercial and Residential 

    1.  New Development
    2.  Drainage
    3.   It is the duty of all property owners, in order to abate and prevent nuisances resulting from improper drainage, to provide at their own expense a proper and adequate drainage system of their respective premises, such drainage system to conform to the design established by the city.
    4.  Rainwater leaders may not extend beyond the building or property line, but rather must be built in chases or on the inside of the wall, and may not empty on any street or sidewalk.
    5.  No person may construct or install any ditch, pipe or other device for the diversion or transmission of storm drainage that will in any way affect the operation or maintenance of city street, water, sanitary sewer or storm sewer facilities without a permit issued by the Water Resources Director upon a finding that such city facilities will not be adversely affected by such construction or installation.
    6.  Maintenance

    In accordance with city policy the developer is responsible for establishing proper connections with existing storm sewer lines and bears ultimate responsibility for the correction of any problems associated with that connection. (See Roadway and Utility Design Manual) 

    Link:

    Revised Stormwater Manual

    Guilford County Municipal Code