Wake County is reminding developers of ongoing construction projects in the county to renew their expired 'Land Disturbance' Permits. There are more than 600 developments underway in Wake County, ranging from residential buildings to commercial constructions. Approximately 200 of these projects have permits that have expired and require renewal.

The Land Disturbance Permit allows developers to conduct activities that alter natural land conditions, such as building homes, schools, roads or businesses. Even though these activities are temporary, they can significantly impact water quality and overall stream function if not managed properly.

"The Land Disturbance Permit is an important tool for protecting our communities and our environment," said Wake County Commissioner Matt Calabria. "Issuing the permit indicates that the developer will undertake all necessary measures to minimize negative impacts on the environment."

Wake County has notified most of the developers with expired permits via email, urging them to renew, and is reaching out to those cases where the email did not reach the intended recipient. Developers are also responsible for checking their permit expiration dates on the Wake County Permit Portal and initiating the renewal process. They can choose between two options for renewal:

Option 1 – Renew at Original Footprint:

• Renew permit based on the same area originally permitted.
• Update ownership or financial responsibility information if needed.
   

Option 2 – Renew at Remaining Acreage:

• Renew your permit based only on the part of the land that isn’t completed and doesn’t have permanent groundcover established.
• Provide a one-page update from an engineer, showing active work areas and ground coverage. Plan review fee of $75 is due in addition to renewal fees.
• Update ownership or financial responsibility information if needed.
   

Developers with expired permits must contact Wake County to select an option and complete the renewal within the next three months to avoid enforcement actions or fines. Failure to renew expired permits can result in fines of up to $5,000 per day. To avoid additional enforcement, developers need to renew by June 11, 2024.

The County oversees various regulations, including erosion and sedimentation, and floodplain and stormwater management, for developments within its jurisdiction, including the unincorporated areas of Wake County, Garner, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wendell and Zebulon.

For inquiries or assistance, developers can email karyn.pageau@wake.gov.