It's been two weeks since the full force of Hurricane Florence squarely hit the eastern North Carolina coast from New Bern to Wilmington and all parts in between. 

As we struggle to find a new normal and address recovery and rebuilding of homes and offices, even while battling an unprecedented uptick in the mosquito population, the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality Division of Coastal Management ("DCM") has issued an Emergency General Permit under the Coastal Area Management Act ("CAMA") to assist residents in all 20 coastal counties with rebuilding of docks, piers, bulkheads, and other similar structures damaged by the hurricane. 

The Emergency General Permit expedites the approval process for rebuilding docks, piers, bulkheads and similar water dependent structures that meet state standards. The emergency permit may also be used for dune reconstruction and maintenance dredging of existing channels.  It is not available for rebuilding houses or replacing oceanfront structures.   

The standard $200 CAMA permit fee is waived for the emergency permit, and, often, no site visit or adjacent property owner notification is required.

Direct consultation with DCM staff at the regional office that covers the county in which the property is located will speed the process along.  If the Emergency General Permit applies, owners should remember that all replacement, reconstruction, and maintenance excavation activities must conform to CAMA standards. 

Emergency permits must be obtained, and all work must be completed by Sept. 20, 2019.

DCM has a helpful link on its website directing property owners to related information and resources. Click here for more details.