North Carolina’s Department of Environmental Quality (NC DEQ) is advancing its next cycle of industrial stormwater general permit renewals, with several permits set to expire on June 30, 2026. Facilities operating under these permits should begin preparing now—particularly by reviewing and updating their Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plans (SWPPPs).
General industrial stormwater permits in North Carolina are typically renewed on a five-year cycle, and facilities covered under these permits receive Certificates of Coverage (COCs) that align with the statewide requirements. For these general permits, as long as a facility’s annual permit fees are paid, the COC is automatically renewed when the new General permit is issued. Importantly, though, compliance with the renewed permit—including accurate SWPPP documentation—is not automatic, and responsibility remains with the permittee.
Which Permits Are Renewing in 2026?
According to NC DEQ, several industrial stormwater permits are scheduled to expire on June 30, 2026, including permits applicable to specific industries including metal fabrication (NCG0300000), food and kindred products (NCG060000), transit and transportation (NCG080000), paints and varnishes (NCG0900000), used motor vehicles (NCG100000) and landfills (NCG120000). Draft permits have been published by DEQ and public comment periods ended on May 15, 2026. Facilities covered under expiring permits should anticipate the final permits to be issued by July 1, 2026 and prepare for updated compliance requirements. In general, the draft permits propose retaining existing quantitative sampling and benchmarks as well as qualitative monitoring requirements for these permits; however, the draft permits include changes to the SWPPP requirements.
A complete list of draft permit releases can be found on NC DEQ’s website: Stormwater Public Notices | NC DEQ
For a complete list of general permits and renewal updates, visit the NC DEQ Industrial Stormwater Program website: General Industrial Permits | NC DEQ.
Key SWPPP Updates to Expect
Based on NC DEQ’s draft industrial stormwater general permits currently released for public notice, facilities should expect more prescriptive and enforceable Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) requirements in the upcoming renewal cycle.
- Removal of select SWPPP elements
- Previous permits required a Feasibility Study to review technical and economic feasibility of changing operations to reduce material exposure; this section has been removed from the draft permits. Additionally, the Annual Online SWPPP Certification placeholder has been removed from the draft permits.
- Improved flexibility for SWPPP elements
- The draft permits allow for cross-referencing for certain plan elements, such as the solvent management plan (SMP). For example, draft permits explicitly specify that the permittee “can incorporate other documents that satisfy these requirements by reference by citing to the specific portions of those documents.” The 2021 general permits had no such flexibility; the SMP had to stand alone as a chapter. All substantive SMP content requirements are otherwise identical. Additionally, the draft permits allow for use of custom forms for qualitative monitoring.
- Other clarifications
- Draft permits offer improved clarity to certain elements. For example, draft permits now specify federal and state citations to provide a crosswalk between the regulations and permit requirements. Additionally, the 2021 permit titles Tier III as “Four Benchmark Exceedances Within the Permit Term” and triggers it when “any four sampling results within the permit term” exceed benchmarks. The draft changes this to “Four Benchmark Exceedances Within Five Years,” making the timeframe a fixed five-year window rather than tied to the permit term.
- Distinction between new and existing facilities added for TMDL/impaired waters.
- The 2021 permit states any facility “may apply for new or continued coverage” until a TMDL is established, and that facilities must demonstrate no reasonable potential to cause water quality standard violations. The draft separates this into two tracks: new facilities must proactively demonstrate no reasonable potential before obtaining coverage, while existing facilities may continue coverage unless DEMLR sends a written determination that reasonable potential exists. This is a meaningful procedural protection for existing permittees that was not explicit in the 2021 language.
What This Means for Permit Holders
Although NC DEQ automatically renews compliant COCs, facilities should not treat the renewal as a passive process. Key actions to take now include:
- Reviewing facility information on file with DEQ to ensure accuracy by reviewing DEQ’s Stormwater Permit Summary Report.
- Confirming that annual fees are current
- Evaluating whether site conditions or operations have changed
- Updating SWPPP documents to reflect current conditions and anticipated permit requirements
- Verifying eDMR registration and reporting readiness
Facilities that delay these updates risk compliance gaps once the renewed permits go into effect.
Practical Steps to Prepare
To ensure a smooth transition into the renewed permit cycle, facilities should consider conducting a SWPPP audit in advance of the renewal date. This review should include:
- Physical site inspection to verify BMP implementation
- Outfall verification and mapping updates
- Documentation review (inspection logs, monitoring records, training logs)
- Gap analysis against anticipated permit requirements
- Review NC DEQ’s Technical Guidance for frequently asked questions and other helpful tips relating to a facility’s stormwater program: Technical Guidance | NC DEQ
By taking a proactive approach, permittees can avoid last-minute compliance challenges and ensure continued coverage under the new permits.
How We Can Help
Our team regularly assists facilities across North Carolina with stormwater permitting, SWPPP development and updates, and compliance audits. Whether you need help reviewing draft permits, updating documentation, or preparing for inspections, we can support your compliance efforts.
If you have questions or need assistance, please contact our Raleigh or Charlotte offices: North Carolina – Trinity Consultants.
