Stormwater Control Measure Maintenance and Inspection Program

Since the 1980s, the Town’s Land Use Ordinance (LUO) has required stormwater management as part of development projects. Beginning in 2004, the Town’s stormwater management efforts have been regulated under an NPDES (National Pollution Discharge Elimination System) permit.  One section of the permit is for “post-construction” stormwater management, which includes requirements for maintenance and inspection of “Stormwater Control Measures” (SCMs). SCMs are regulated stormwater devices that treat runoff to reduce both water quantity and quality impacts. The Town of Carrboro requires the property owner to take responsibility for maintenance and inspection of stormwater devices. 

Requirements

Read the SCM Maintenance and Inspection Program Guide for program details and policies.

Property owners are required to do the following regarding SCMs:

• Conduct maintenance regularly to ensure the function of the device, in accordance with minimum requirements set by the NC Department of Environmental Quality (NCDEQ)
• Maintain records of maintenance performed
• Have each SCM inspected at least annually by a qualified North Carolina professional
• Submit an annual report including the results of the inspection and maintenance records from the previous year
• Set aside funds sufficient to pay major, non-routine costs associated with keeping the SCM in proper condition
• Submit a report annually stating that such funds have been set aside

Qualified Professionals

Carrboro requires that SCMs be inspected annually by a qualified North Carolina professional. Appropriate inspectors include Professional Engineers, Professional Landscape Architects, or others specially qualified by an appropriate training, testing and certification program. 

The Town of Carrboro has published, and continues to update, a list of contractors who provide stormwater related services on a residential scale. Download the Contractor Directory as an Excel Workbook here; SCM Maintenance and Inspection professionals are listed under the orange "Green Residential Stormwater Infrastructure" tab. Visit the Contractor Directory webpage  for more information. 

If you perform SCM Maintenance and Inspections and wish to apply to be listed in the directory, please visit the Contractor Directory webpage or go directly to the application at this link. 

The Town of Chapel Hill maintains a list of State-certified parties working locally, listed here: https://www.townofchapelhill.org/home/showdocument?id=41610

The City of Durham maintains a list of City-certified parties, listed here: https://durhamnc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/2237/List-of-BMP-Maintenance-Certifiers-BMC-PDF?bidId=

The Town of Carrboro does not specifically recommend any particular companies or individuals. The lists provided above are meant solely as a resource for those who are in search of a qualified inspector. 

Additional information

Additional details about the Town’s program for privately owned SCMs are available in the "Related Documents" section below. 

Access templates here: SCM Forms, Templates and Documents

Read the SCM Maintenance and Inspection Program Guide for program details and policies.

Read the Overview and FAQs of the SCM Maintenance and Inspection Program for background information and answers to commonly asked questions.

See the Land Use Ordinance Section 15-263.1 Maintenance of Structural BMPs.

Visit the NCDEQ's Stormwater Design Manual website for specific requirements for SCMs.