From the field
Articles & Guides
DrainageYard Drainage in Durham, NC — One Office, a Low Threshold, and Clay That Won't Take Water
Durham's land-disturbance trigger is 12,000 sq ft — well below the statewide acre — and one joint office handles city and county. What that means for a drainage fix.
July 30, 20263 min read
DrainageYard Drainage in Charlotte, NC — Diagnose the Cause Before You Pay for a Fix
Standing water in a Charlotte yard is usually grading, not soil. And in Mecklenburg County the patio you add to fix it can itself trigger stormwater review.
July 30, 20263 min read
GuideNew Hanover County, NC: Land Disturbance Permits, CAMA, and the Coastal Stormwater Rules
New Hanover's land-disturbance permit starts at one acre — but CAMA is triggered by distance from water, and stormwater by 10,000 sq ft of impervious surface. Three systems, three triggers.
July 29, 20263 min read
GuideEarthwork on the North Carolina Coast: Sand, a High Water Table, and the Permit System That Only Exists Here
Coastal NC is the one region with a second permit system. CAMA is triggered by distance from water, not lot size — and the soil is sand over a high water table, not clay.
July 29, 20263 min read
GuideGuilford County, NC: Grading Permits, Watershed Critical Areas, and the Randleman Lake Rules
In Guilford County the grading trigger isn't only acreage — inside a Watershed Critical Area a permit is required regardless of size. Plus Randleman Lake buffers, surety, and the process.
July 28, 20263 min read
GuideMecklenburg County, NC: One Stormwater Program, Strict Buffers, and the Bond Nobody Expects
Charlotte-Mecklenburg runs one unified stormwater program — but a stormwater plan triggers at 12,000 sq ft, stream buffers run 100+ feet, and land development requires a bond. What that means for your lot.
July 27, 20263 min read