Johnston County holds public hearing on revised stormwater ordinance; adoption eyed for Sept. 2

Johnston County held a public hearing Aug. 4 on proposed revisions to the county’s stormwater ordinance and design manual, with staff recommending the board consider adoption at its Sept. 2 meeting and an implementation date of Nov. 1, 2025.

The draft ordinance updates county requirements to reflect state nutrient-management rules (the Neuse rule) and a revised agreement with U.S. Fish and Wildlife, county utilities director Chandra Farmer and consultant Beth Umstead told the board. The package sets a minimum built-upon area (BUA) for new single-family lots served by septic systems, changes attenuation and water-quality requirements, removes the county’s land-dedication option and adds annual inspection and enforcement tools.

Why it matters: the changes affect how new subdivisions and other developments must manage stormwater quantity and quality, who must build and maintain detention features, and when developers may be exempted from on-site attenuation — decisions that affect development costs, long-term maintenance obligations and neighborhood drainage.

Key proposals and clarifications - Implementation and schedule: Staff said they would return Sept. 2 seeking adoption and recommend an effective date of Nov. 1, 2025. Designers may choose to proceed under existing rules if their projects are already in process; otherwise the new rules will apply to future permits. - Minimum BUA for septic lots: The draft design manual would require new…