Federal law says the City of Charlotte must adopt a Post-Construction Controls Ordinance (PCCO) by June 2009.  This is part of the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permitting process required by the Clean Water Act. These requirements apply to urbanizing communities.

At their November 26, 2007 meeting, City Council unanimously approved the adoption of a Post-Construction Controls Ordinance. This ordinance will take effect within the City and Extra-Territorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) limits July 1, 2008.

View the adopted City of Charlotte Post-Construction Controls Ordinance (PCCO).
View the Administrative Manual for Implementation of the City of Charlotte PCCO.
View the Storm Water Permit Application flow chart.
View the Charlotte-Mecklenburg BMP Design Manual.
View the Watershed Districts Map.
View the Frequently Asked Implementation Questions.

Special PCCO provisions are allowed in the following areas:

• Distressed Business Districts
• South Corridor Transit Line
• Northeast Corridor Transit Line
• North Corridor Transit Line
• Southeast Corridor Transit Line

A group of stakeholders met over several years time to develop a draft Ordinance. View information about the adoption process.

What will the Post-Construction Controls Ordinance require?
In general, the ordinance requires:

• No-build zones and undisturbed natural buffers of varying widths along streams,
• A portion of the site be left as undisturbed natural area,
• Installation of approved, on-site storm water Best Management Practices such as rain gardens, detentions ponds, and wetlands to collect and treat storm water, and
• Construction of storm water detention measures that reduce flooding risks for downstream properties and streets.

What are the benefits of the Post-Construction Storm Water Ordinance?

• Implementation of the ordinance allows municipalities to remain compliant with State and Federal mandates.
• The measures of the ordinance will help protect drinking water supplies from degradation.
• Additional State and Federal drivers that could slow growth and development are addressed.
• Stream bank erosion and flooding risks are reduced.
• An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Costly future watershed restoration may be reduced of avoided entirely.
• Stream and lake water quality and habitat are protected for an increased quality of life. 

For more information about the City's Post-Construction Controls Ordinance and the process by which it will be adopted, please contact Mike MacIntyre at 704-432-5570 or mmacintyre@ci.charlotte.nc.us .

For more information about the municipalities included and related requirements, visit the State Division of Water Quality website.