NC Outstanding Resource Waters (ORW) and High-Quality Waters (HQW) Standards (NC)
Tracked preemption from the North Carolina overlay bundle.
Overview
← All state preemptionsNorth Carolina overlay roll-upNorth Carolina zoning wikiNorth Carolina building codesFederal overlaysGlossaryFederal-conflict: Not flagged
Effective
1989-09-01
Sunset
—
Authority
state
Scope
state:NC
Other North Carolina preemptions
NC S.L. 2024-43 (HB 250) — Public Safety / Other Changes Omnibus (placeholder — zoning provisions unverified)NC S.L. 2023-108 (HB 409) — Statewide By-Right ADU MandateNC GS §160D-907 — Family Care Homes as Residential UseNC GS §160D-910 — Manufactured Housing Anti-ExclusionNC GS §160D-914 — Residential Solar Collector ProtectionNC GS §160D-921 — Tree Ordinance Local-Act RequirementNC GS §160D-903 — Bona Fide Farm Exemption from County ZoningNC HB 130 (2021) — Vested Rights Protections for Permit Applications
Trigger predicate
When this evaluates true for a parcel, the law's preempted fields take precedence over base zoning.
parcel.in_orw_hqw_basin == TruePreempted fields
4 fields on the base district schema are rewritten when the trigger fires.
| Field | Op | Value | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
base_districts[*].impervious_surface_max_pct | cap_at | 12 | ORW low-density: ≤12% BUA OR 1 du/ac with no curb/gutter |
base_districts[*].impervious_surface_max_pct | cap_at | 12 | HQW low-density: ≤12% BUA; high-density option allows higher with 85% TSS removal and other controls |
base_districts[*].stormwater_treatment_required | require | 85_pct_TSS_and_runoff_volume_match | HQW/ORW high-density option requires 85% TSS removal AND match pre-development hydrology |
base_districts[*].riparian_buffer_ft | floor_at | 30 | 30-ft minimum buffer; 50 ft in ORW shellfish areas |
Citation
Authority source
15A NCAC 02B .0224 (ORW); 15A NCAC 02B .0101 (HQW); NCGS §143-214.1
§ 15A NCAC 02B .0101 / .0224
Research notes
Outstanding Resource Waters and High-Quality Waters are NC EMC surface-water classifications conferring stricter stormwater and buffer requirements. ORW examples: portions of Tar-Pamlico, New River, Lumber, Eno, Watauga, several Sound waters and shellfish areas. HQW is broader (any water rated Excellent by NC DWR). Triggers local-government rule adoption (15A NCAC 02H .1006) for new development within affected basin. Independent of Water Supply Watershed but often overlapping.