HomeMy Public PortalAbout150_024_Chatham County Buffer Ordinance f. Environmental Standards.
(1) A 35 foot riparian buffer as measured from the Department of
Natural Resources jurisdictional marsh line as established by the
Coastal Resources Division in accordance with the Coastal
Marshlands Protection Act of 1970 is required. The buffer must
remain undisturbed at all times, except as permitted in paragraph
(2) of this section. The requirement of the riparian buffer does not
exclude the property owner from compliance with any other State or
local buffers of State waters. Except that for marinas, only the
provisions of Coastal Marshlands Protection, Chapter 391-2-3 shall
apply.
(2) No more than 30 percent of the riparian buffer maybe altered by
pruning or selective clearing for access and maintenance of view
corridors.
(3) The riparian buffer and setback standards established in this
section shall not apply to existing habitable structures within the
buffer or setback that are damaged by fire or natural disaster and
seek to rebuild on their existing footprint, except where they are
100 percent destroyed and reconstruction of the building would not
intrude upon any setback or drainfield area. The minimum building
setback from the marsh line shall not apply to any type of marina,
commercial marine use, or docking facility.
(4) Expansion of existing structures within the riparian buffer shall be
limited to a maximum of 1400 square feet of vertical surface area
for each 100 feet of lot width facing the marsh or waterfront.