Changes to North Carolina wetlands require permits because wetlands hold water, and activities affecting the quality of that water may affect downstream users. To provide guidelines and set limits on proposed wetland changes to benefit all people, both state and federal governments have established rules for wetlands in North Carolina. The North Carolina Division of Water Resources (DWR), North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM), and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) are the agencies in North Carolina that enforce wetland rules and issue permits for projects that meet the rule requirements and do not violate established water quality standards. Obtaining permission to modify a wetland may mean that replacement of that wetland must be done elsewhere to make up for the loss in wetland functions (mitigation). Rules regarding wetlands in North Carolina are found in sections 401 and 404 of the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA), and the North Carolina administrative codes (for Isolated/Non-404 wetlands).

Wetlands in North Carolina provide protection from flooding and erosion, places for recreational activities, habitat for plants and animals including human food sources, and cleansing of water before it enters rivers, estuaries, and the ocean. Yet, rapidly increasing human population in North Carolina has led to an average 770 permit requests per year (since the year 2000) to modify wetlands.

Learn more about why wetlands matter: functions and benefits of North Carolina’s wetlands.

Because they involve water, changes to wetlands in North Carolina are regulated by the 401 and Buffer Permitting Branch of the Division of Water Resources (DWR), the North Carolina Division of Coastal Management (DCM), and the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). One or more of these agencies may require permit applications for proposed changes to a wetland depending on the type and size of the impacts, type and size of the wetland, and the wetland location. The type of legislation, the agency responsible for enforcing the legislation, and regulated activities are summarized in the table below.

(This information focuses primarily on wetlands. Impacts to streams, ponds, lakes, and riparian buffers are also regulated, and similar permitting requirements may apply.)

Types of activities that may require one or more of the above permits include:

• Any disturbance to a wetland
• Placement of any material within a wetland, stream, or open water, including material that is necessary for construction, culvert installation, causeways, road fills, dams, dikes or artificial islands, property protection, reclamation devices and fill for pipes or utility lines.
• Temporary impacts including dewatering or dredged material prior to final disposal and temporary fill for access roads, cofferdams, storage, and work areas.
• Any disturbance to the bottom or sides of a stream.
• The damming of a stream channel to create a pond or lake.

NC DEQ Division of Water Resources, US Army Corps of Engineers, and NC Division of Coastal management are each responsible for reviewing and issuing permits. They each have well trained staff that are available to help you through the process. Below are links to general permit information, contact information, and permit applications for each of these agencies.

If you have a wetland on your property that you want to protect in its current condition or improve its condition, there are a few options to consider.