Wake County Watershed Management Division is one of a few local government agencies working to help protect our community’s soil and water resources. Properties located in unincorporated Wake County fall under the jurisdiction of the Wake County Watershed Management Division. Properties within municipal limits or their Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) should contact their local municipal offices for watershed‑related services.
Our division administers Articles 9, 10, 11, and 14 of the Wake County Unified Development Ordinance for the unincorporated areas of the County. The group reviews development plans and issues permits for land disturbance, stormwater, and floodplain practices. Our team conducts inspections and responses to complaints to promote compliance with environmental laws. After construction is complete, we manage annual inspections for stormwater control measures (SCMs) and inspect a portion of completed stormwater devices each year to ensure long‑term performance.
Wake County Watershed Management administers erosion and sedimentation control ordinances for the towns of Garner, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wendell, and Zebulon. We also administer stormwater ordinances for Rolesville, Wendell, and Zebulon, including plan review, land disturbance inspections, and engineering review of stormwater devices. Municipalities are responsible for stormwater management once construction is finished.