MOREHEAD CITY — The Department of Environmental Quality’s Division of Coastal Management is adjusting jurisdictions for its four regulatory district offices, effective July 1.
DEQ said the changes are to better keep up with the growing population of the coast, which is causing a shift in the workload for coastal development permits.
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During the past decade, while most of the 20 coastal counties lost population, Brunswick County has been the state’s fastest growing county with 21% growth. Other coastal counties experiencing growth are Pender at 16.3%, New Hanover at 11.8%, Currituck at 11.2% and Dare at 6.2%.
Ongoing hurricane recovery efforts and increased development activity have also impacted district workloads.
Those seeking Coastal Area Management Act, or CAMA, permits should note the altered districts, which will be adjusted as follows:
- The Elizabeth City District Office jurisdiction will continue to include Currituck, Dare, Camden, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Chowan, and Gates counties, and will additionally Hertford and Bertie counties.
- The Washington District Office jurisdiction will continue to include Tyrrell, Washington, Beaufort, and Hyde Counties, and will additionally include Pamlico County.
- The Morehead City District Office jurisdiction will continue to include Carteret and Craven Counties, and will additionally include all of Onslow County, except Surf City.
- The Wilmington District Office jurisdiction will continue to include Brunswick, New Hanover, and Pender Counties, including all of Surf City.
The division is responsible for permitting and enforcement, CAMA land-use planning, public beach and waterfront access, North Carolina Coastal Reserves and administers a grant program to make marine sewage pump-out stations available to more boaters.
Those who have questions about coastal development permits can find contact information on the website.
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