Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Air Quality topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Buncombe County adopts local air quality code; it takes effect July 24
Summary
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners adopted a local air quality code to complete transition of the county air quality program; the code — chiefly administrative updates to Chapter 1 — was approved unanimously and is slated to take effect July 24, 2026.
The Buncombe County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously on July 21 to adopt a local air quality code that updates the program’s administrative chapter and completes the county’s transition to local governance of air quality permitting.
Ashley Featherstone of the county’s Air Quality division told commissioners the code is required “in order to govern the program” and explained the update focuses on administrative provisions while preserving state-aligned technical standards in chapters 4 and 17. Featherstone said the North Carolina Environmental Management Commission had certified the county to move forward pending code adoption.
Featherstone said the county typically updates the code annually to remain aligned with state and federal requirements and noted that fee changes will follow a 30-day public-notice period and formal rule-making steps. She asked the board to hold the required public hearing and adopt the code so Buncombe County could assume the permitting program.
After the hearing opened and no members of the public spoke, a motion to adopt the code — made by the commissioner who introduced the item and seconded by the meeting chair — carried on a voice vote. The board set the code’s effective date for July 24, 2026.
The action completes a step the county initiated on June 16 to create a local air quality program and aligns administrative procedures with state and federal rules. Commissioners will see any future fee proposals as part of required notice and rule-making processes.
