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Wake County Unified Development Code
11-1
Article 11. Environmental Standards
Part 1
Neuse Riparian Buffers
11-10
Applicability of Neuse Riparian Buffer Protection Rules
The riparian buffer protection rules of 15 A NCAC 2B.0233 (Neuse River Basin: Nutrient Sensitive
Waters Management Strategy: Protection and Maintenance of Existing Riparian Buffers) apply to all
lands within the Neuse River and Cape Fear River basins.
Sections 11-11 through 11-19 are reserved for future use
Part 2
Water Supply Watershed Buffers
11-20
Purpose
Water supply watershed buffers provide strips of natural vegetation that remove pollutants from
stormwater runoff before they reach a water supply source or a watercourse that drains to a water supply
source. They do so by allowing infiltration of runoff and filtration of pollutants through the ground and
soil, slowing runoff flow to allow settling and deposition of pollutants, and providing vegetation that
absorbs pollutants through root systems. The provision of vegetated, undisturbed buffers within water
supply watersheds, therefore, is an important and effective means of maintaining the quality of public
water supply sources and protecting those sources from potential polluting activities associated with
development.
Commentary: A summary of the Wake County Water Supply Watershed Buffers and Regulations and classifications are attached
in Appendix B.
11-21
Buffer Location and Width
Water supply watershed buffers and building setbacks from such buffers must be provided in accordance
with the following table.
11-21-1 General
(A)
In the event of conflict with other applicable regulations, the more restrictive regulation
governs. Note: Some streams may require both water supply watershed buffers and Neuse
River riparian buffers. In such cases, the more restrictive of the either the U.S.G.S.
1:24,000 (7.5 minute) scale topographic maps or the USDA Soils Map must be used to
determine a perennial stream.
(B)
Buffers described in Sec. 11-21-6 and Sec. 11-21-3 were previously identified and platted
as “drainageway buffers.” Because they serve the same function and are subject to the same
limitations as water supply watershed buffers, they have been re-
designated as “water
sup
ply watershed buffers.”
(C)
Some streams may require both water supply watershed buffers and Neuse River riparian
buffers.
(D)
All limits of disturbance within watershed buffers apply to each side of the water body.