Last Updated 08/19/2026
Excerpt from Mebane Municipal Code
ARTICLE VII. - PHASE II POST CONSTRUCTION STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Sec. 6-197 Stormwater BMP Design Manual
(1) The stormwater administrator shall use the policy, criteria, and information, including technical specifications and standards, in the latest published edition or revision of the North Carolina Department of the Environment and Natural Resources-Division of Water Quality’s Manual of Stormwater Best Management Practices (referred to herein as the stormwater BMP design manual). The BMP Stormwater BMP design manual will serve as the basis for decisions about stormwater permits and about the design, implementation and performance of structural and non-structural stormwater BMPs.
Sec. 6-232 Development Standards for low-density projects
Low-density projects (no more than two dwelling units per acre or 24 percent built-upon area for all residential and non-residential development) shall comply with each of the following standards:
(1) Stormwater conveyance. Stormwater runoff from the development shall be transported from the development by vegetated conveyances to the maximum extent practicable.
(2) Stream buffers. All built-upon area shall be at a minimum of 30 feet landward of all perennial and intermittent surface waters. A perennial or intermittent surface water shall be deemed present if the feature is approximately shown on either the most recent version of the soil survey map prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the most recent version of the 1:24,000 scale (7.5 minute) quadrangle topographic maps prepared by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS). An exception to this requirement may be allowed when surface waters are not present in accordance with the provisions of 15A NCAC 2B .0233 (3)(a) or similar site-specific determination made using Division-approved methodology.
(3) Density provision A project with an overall density at or below the low-density thresholds, but containing areas with a density greater than the overall project density, may be considered low density as long as the project meets or exceeds the post-construction model practices for low-density projects and locates the higher density in upland areas and away from surface waters and drainageways to the maximum extent practicable.
(4) Restrictions on property use. The approval of the stormwater permit shall require an enforceable restriction on property usage that runs with the land, such as recorded deed restrictions or protective covenants, to ensure that future development and redevelopment maintains the site consistent with the approved project plans.
Sec. 6-233 Development Standards for high-density projects
High-density projects (any project that exceeds the low density thresholds for dwelling units per acre or built-upon area) shall implement structural stormwater management systems that comply with each of the following standards:
(1) Treatment volume. The measures shall be designed to control and treat the stormwater run-off generated by the one-inch of rain;
(2) Drawdown time. Runoff volume drawdown time shall be a minimum of 48 hours, but not more than 120 hours;
(3) Post-development flows. Stormwater shall not leave the project site at a rate greater than the predevelopment discharge rate for the ten-year, 24-hour storm;
(4) Total suspended solids removal. All structural stormwater treatment systems used to meet the requirements of the program shall be designed to have a minimum of 85 percent average annual removal for total suspended solids (TSS);
(5) General design criteria. General engineering design criteria for all projects shall be in accordance with 15A NCAC 2H .1008(c), as explained in the design manual;
All stormwater control measures that incorporate a permanent or temporary water pool with depth greater than two feet shall be fenced. The fence shall meet the design standards maintained by the stormwater administrator.
(6) Stream buffers. All built-upon area shall be at a minimum of 30 feet landward of all perennial and intermittent surface waters. A surface water shall be deemed present if the feature is approximately shown on either the most recent version of the soil survey map prepared by the Natural Resources Conservation Service of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or the most recent version of the 1:24,000 scale (7.5 minute) quadrangle topographic maps prepared by the United States Geologic Survey (USGS). An exception to this requirement may be allowed when surface waters are not present in accordance with the provisions of 15A NCAC 2B .0233 (3)(a) or similar site-specific determination made using Division-approved methodology.
(7) Restrictions on property use. The approval of the stormwater permit shall require an enforceable restriction on property usage that runs with the land, such as recorded deed restrictions or protective covenants, to ensure that future development and redevelopment maintains the site consistent with the approved project plans.
Sec. 6-251 General standards for maintenance
(a) Function of BMPs as intended. The owner of each structural BMP installed pursuant to this article shall maintain and operate it so as to preserve and continue its function in controlling stormwater quality and quality at the degree or amount of function for which the structural BMP was designed.
(b) Annual maintenance inspection and report. The person responsible for maintenance of any structural BMP installed pursuant to this article shall submit to the stormwater administrator an annual inspection report from one of the following persons performing services only in their area of competence: a qualified registered North Carolina professional engineer, surveyor, or landscape architect, soil scientist, aquatic biologist, or person certified by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service for stormwater treatment practice inspection and maintenance. The inspection report shall contain all of the following:
(1) The name and address or the land owner;
(2) The recorded book and page number of the lot of each structural BMP;
(3) A statement that an inspection was made of all structural BMPs;
(4) The date the inspection was made;
(5) A statement that all inspected structural BMPs are performing properly and are in compliance with the terms and conditions of the approved maintenance agreement required by this article; and
(6) The original signature and seal of the engineer, surveyor, or landscape architect.
All inspection reports shall be on forms supplied by the stormwater administrator. An original inspection report shall be provided to the stormwater administrator beginning one year from the date of as-built certification and each year thereafter on or before the date of the as-built certification.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is post-construction stormwater management, and does it apply to my property in Mebane?
Post-construction stormwater management covers the ongoing obligation to maintain the structural BMPs on your property so they continue to function as designed, under the standards set in Chapter 6 of Mebane’s municipal code and the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality’s design manual. If your Mebane property was developed under either the low-density or high-density stormwater standards, the BMPs installed at that time remain your responsibility to maintain for as long as you own the property, not just through construction. AQUALIS provides full post-construction stormwater management for property owners in Mebane, so BMPs stay compliant long after a project is complete.
How do I know if my Mebane property falls under low-density or high-density stormwater standards?
Mebane classifies development as low-density if it has two or fewer dwelling units per acre or 24 percent or less built-upon area, in which case vegetated conveyances and a 30-foot stream buffer are generally required. Anything exceeding those thresholds is considered high-density and must include structural stormwater systems designed to treat the runoff from a one-inch rain event, along with a 48 to 120 hour drawdown time and a minimum 85 percent average annual removal rate for total suspended solids. Knowing which category your Mebane property falls under determines exactly what maintenance obligations apply. AQUALIS reviews a property’s original approval to confirm its classification and manages maintenance according to the correct standard.
How often does Mebane require stormwater BMP inspections, and who can perform them?
Mebane requires an annual inspection report submitted to the stormwater administrator, beginning one year after the BMP’s as-built certification and continuing every year after that. The inspection must be conducted by a qualified professional, such as a licensed engineer, surveyor, landscape architect, soil scientist, or certified inspector, not by the property owner directly. AQUALIS coordinates these annual, qualified inspections for Mebane property owners and manages the reporting timeline so the first report and every one after it are submitted on schedule.
What happens if my stormwater BMP in Mebane is not preserving its intended function?
Mebane’s ordinance requires property owners to maintain BMPs so they preserve and continue their function, and a system that has degraded, whether through sediment buildup, vegetation loss, or structural damage, puts the property at risk of a compliance issue when the next annual inspection report is due. Addressing these problems before the report is filed is far easier than responding to a violation afterward. AQUALIS provides maintenance and non-compliance resolution for Mebane property owners, correcting BMP issues proactively rather than after they surface in an inspection.
Does the Jordan Lake watershed affect stormwater requirements for my Mebane property?
Mebane participates in the Jordan New Development Program, a nutrient management requirement tied to the Jordan Lake watershed that adds nutrient-focused considerations on top of the city’s standard stormwater rules for qualifying development. Property owners in Mebane whose sites fall within this program may have additional maintenance considerations tied to nutrient reduction. AQUALIS accounts for these Jordan Lake-related requirements when managing BMP maintenance for applicable Mebane properties.
Who is responsible for BMP maintenance if I bought a Mebane property with an existing stormwater system?
Maintenance responsibility for a Mebane property’s stormwater BMPs transfers to the current owner regardless of who was involved in the original permitting or construction, and the annual inspection reporting obligation continues without a pause when ownership changes. New owners are sometimes unaware that an inspection report is due until Mebane’s stormwater administrator reaches out. AQUALIS reviews the maintenance and inspection history for newly acquired Mebane properties and takes over the ongoing responsibility from there.
Where can property owners in Mebane get help with post-construction stormwater compliance?
Post-construction stormwater compliance in Mebane involves classification under low-density or high-density standards, stream buffer maintenance, annual qualified inspections, and in some cases Jordan Lake nutrient requirements. Managing all of this without dedicated stormwater staff is difficult for most property owners. AQUALIS offers complete post-construction stormwater management for Mebane property owners, covering maintenance, annual inspection coordination, and non-compliance resolution, so 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.
