Last Updated 08/19/2026
Excerpt from Gaston County Code of Ordinance
Article II. Stormwater Management
Sec. 5.5-38. – Penalties for violation.
(a) Civil penalties may be imposed as follows:
(1) Any person who violates any of the provisions of this article, or rules or orders adopted or issued pursuant to this article, or who initiates or continues a development for which a stormwater plan is required, except in accordance with the terms, conditions and provisions of an approved plan, is subject to a civil penalty. Each day of a continuing violation shall constitute a separate violation. Additional fees may be charged for remedies and enforcement of this chapter.
(2) Violation of this chapter may subject the violator to a civil penalty to be recovered in a civil action in the nature of a debt if the violator does not pay the penalty within thirty (30) days after notice of the violation is issued by the stormwater administrator. Civil penalties may be assessed up to the full amount of penalty to which the county and municipalities with stormwater inter-local agreements with the county is subject for violations of its Phase II stormwater permit, or if no Phase II stormwater permit exists for the jurisdiction, civil penalties may be assessed up to the full amount allowed by law.
Sec. 5.5-42. – Stormwater Management Objectives.
(a) In order to reduce drainage related damage and hazards, adequate natural drainage systems or stormwater management installations are required to collect and transmit stormwater flows into either existing drainage facilities or a natural drainage system.
(b) All storm drainage facilities shall be designed, constructed and maintained so that adjacent properties are not unreasonably burdened with surface waters as a result of such improvements. Specifically:
(1) Offsite areas which drain to or across a site proposed for development must be accommodated in the stormwater plans for the development. The stormwater management system must be capable of conveying the existing offsite flows through or around the development such that the volume and rate of flow from the adjacent property is not altered. If offsite flows are carried in the site system any detention system shall be sized to accommodate this flow. The flow must be released to the original drainage area.
(2) Storm drainage facilities shall be designed to limit the discharge from the site to the rate for the one (1) year, twenty-four (24) hour storm that existed prior to development of the site. For projects that are redeveloping a developed site, the discharge will be limited to that which occurs before any new development. The type and location of the discharge will be as occurred before the current development unless the discharge is to a manmade conveyance system.
(d) These goals for discharge can be accomplished by designing, constructing and maintaining all stormwater management installations to the extent practicable:
(1) Avoid increases in surface runoff volume and velocity by including measures which promote the infiltration of stormwater,
(2) Maximize the time of concentration of stormwater runoff, and
(3) Promote the filtration and precipitation of pollutants from stormwater runoff in order to protect the water quality of the receiving watercourse.
Sec 5.5-43- Stormwater Management Design Standards
(b) Design storm:
(1) The measures shall control and treat at a minimum the stormwater runoff from the first inch of rainfall volume leaving the project site. Runoff volume drawdown time shall be a minimum of forty-eight (48) hours, but not more than one hundred twenty (120) hours.
(2) All structural stormwater treatment systems used to meet the requirements of this ordinance shall be designed to have a minimum of eighty-five (85) percent average annual removal for total suspended solids (TSS).
(3) The design of drainage facilities in flood hazard areas shall be consistent with the requirements of county’s flood damage prevention ordinance.
(4) The computation of stormwater runoff shall follow established engineering practice. Acceptable methods of computation include the Rational Method, the Peak Discharge Method as described in USDA Technical Release Number 55 (TR-55), and USGS Regression Equations, where applicable. If an alternate method is proposed, the method should be described and justification for using this method should be provided. The same method must be used for both the pre- and post-development conditions.
(5) Runoff coefficients shall be based on full development of the project and of the watershed to the extent of the current zoning or land use patterns, and shall include the complete development of the site through build-out, including roof tops and other impervious areas that may be proposed.
(6) Stormwater detention shall be provided to insure that the rate of discharge for the one (1) year, twenty-four (24) hour storm does not exceed the pre-development rate of discharge. In order to demonstrate this, inflow-outflow calculations shall also be submitted for any stormwater detention ponds.
(7) All stormwater systems shall be designed and built to route at a minimum the twenty-five (25) year, twenty-four (24) hour storm safely.
City of Gastonia Stormwater Services
What is stormwater?
Stormwater Control
The concern for stormwater runoff is increasingly becoming more serious as our county grows in population. Not considered a farming community, Gaston County is progressively being urbanized. The conversion of our land from rural to developed generates large volumes of stormwater runoff. Stormwater originates from rainfall or snowmelt that enters natural and man-made drainage systems. These storm systems do not receive any treatment before entering the waters of our streams and lakes. More than just occurrences of flooding, stormwater carries pollutants such as sediment, nutrients, and bacteria, affecting our lakes and streams. This in turn affects the quality of our drinking water and thereof each resident of the county. We are very fortunate that the state of North Carolina has commissioned Gaston County Natural Resources to assist and educate the citizens of Gaston County in the management of stormwater.
View State Page
Frequently Asked Questions
What is post-construction stormwater management, and does it apply to my Gastonia property?
Post-construction stormwater management refers to the ongoing operation and maintenance of the stormwater control measures (detention ponds, bioretention areas, underground systems, and similar BMPs) that were installed on your property when it was built or redeveloped. In Gastonia, if your site’s original stormwater plan included structural BMPs, the City expects those systems to keep performing at the standards they were designed and approved for, long after construction has ended. AQUALIS provides full post-construction stormwater management for Gastonia property owners, so systems stay compliant year after year instead of falling out of spec once the project is closed out.
How often does the City of Gastonia require post-construction stormwater inspections?
Gastonia requires that permitted stormwater control measures be inspected on a regular basis to confirm they are functioning as designed, typically at least once a year, with documentation kept on file and available if the City requests it. Many Gastonia property owners are unaware this is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time construction requirement. AQUALIS handles scheduled post-construction inspections for property owners across Gastonia and Gaston County, documenting each visit so you have a compliance record ready if the City ever asks for it.
Who is responsible for maintaining a stormwater BMP after construction is finished in Gastonia?
Once a project is complete, responsibility for maintaining the stormwater system typically shifts to the property owner or, in some cases, a homeowners association or property management company named in the operation and maintenance agreement filed with the City of Gastonia. This means clearing sediment, keeping outlet structures unobstructed, managing vegetation in bioretention cells, and repairing any structural damage. AQUALIS takes on this maintenance responsibility for Gastonia property owners, managing the BMP directly so it continues meeting the City’s post-construction performance standards.
What are common post-construction stormwater violations in Gastonia?
The most frequent issues the City of Gastonia flags on existing properties include clogged or sediment-filled BMPs, overgrown or dead vegetation in bioretention and swale systems, damaged or missing outlet protection, unauthorized modifications to an approved system, and missing or outdated maintenance records. Because these violations tend to develop slowly after a project is finished, they often go unnoticed until an inspection catches them. AQUALIS proactively monitors post-construction systems on Gastonia properties to catch these issues early and resolve them before they become violations.
What happens if my Gastonia property's stormwater system falls out of compliance after construction?
If a post-construction BMP is not properly maintained, the City of Gastonia can issue a notice of violation, and civil penalties may apply, with each day the issue continues potentially counting as a separate offense. This risk exists even years after a project receives its final approval, since post-construction compliance is an ongoing obligation, not a one-time milestone. If you’ve received a notice on a Gastonia property, AQUALIS provides non-compliance resolution, correcting the underlying maintenance issue and working with the City to bring the system back into good standing.
Where can I get help managing post-construction stormwater compliance in Gastonia?
Post-construction stormwater management in Gastonia involves recurring inspections, ongoing maintenance, recordkeeping, and the risk of enforcement if any of it slips. Handling this in house can be difficult for property owners without dedicated stormwater staff. AQUALIS offers complete post-construction stormwater management for Gastonia and Gaston County property owners, covering inspections, maintenance, recordkeeping, and non-compliance resolution, so property owners can meet the City’s requirements without managing the process themselves.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Regulations change frequently — AQUALIS makes no warranty as to the accuracy or completeness of this content, and any reliance on it is at your own risk. Consult a qualified professional or your local regulatory authority to confirm requirements applicable to your specific property.
