<div class="chunk-title">Sec. 31-4. - Scope and exclusions.</div>
<div class="chunk-content">
            <p class="incr0">
               (a)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Geographical scope of regulated land-disturbing activity.</span> This chapter shall apply to land-disturbing activity within the territorial jurisdiction
               of the county and to the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the county as allowed by
               agreement between local governments, the extent of annexation or other appropriate
               legal instrument or law.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (b)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Exclusions from regulated land-disturbing activity.</span> Notwithstanding the general applicability of this chapter to all land-disturbing
               activity, this chapter shall not apply to the following types of land-disturbing activity:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (1)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Activities, including the production of, or relating or incidental to the production
               of crops, grains, fruits, vegetables, ornamental and flowering plants, dairy, livestock,
               poultry and all other forms of agriculture undertaken on agricultural land for the
               production of plants and animals useful to man, including, but not limited to:
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               a.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Forage and sod crops, grain and feed crops, tobacco, cotton, and peanuts.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               b.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Dairy animals and dairy products.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               c.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Poultry and poultry products.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               d.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Livestock, including beef cattle, llamas, sheep, swine, horses, ponies, mules, and
               goats.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               e.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Bees and apiary products.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               f.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Fur-producing animals.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr2">
               g.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content3">
               Mulch, ornamental plants, and other horticultural products. For purposes of this section,
               "mulch" means substances composed primarily of plant remains or mixtures of such substances.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (2)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               An activity undertaken on forestland for the production and harvesting of timber and
               timber products and conducted in accordance with best management practices set out
               in Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality (Best Management Practices),
               as adopted by the department. If land-disturbing activity undertaken on forestland
               for the production and harvesting of timber and timber products is not conducted in
               accordance with Forest Practice Guidelines Related to Water Quality, the provisions
               of this chapter shall apply to such activity and any related land-disturbing activity
               on the tract.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (3)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               An activity for which a permit is required under the Mining Act of 1971, G.S. ch.
               74, art. 7.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (4)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               A land-disturbing activity over which the state has exclusive regulatory jurisdiction
               as provided in G.S. 113A-56(a).
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (5)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               An activity which is essential to protect human life during an emergency.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (6)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Activities undertaken to restore the wetland functions of converted wetlands to provide
               compensatory mitigation to offset impacts permitted under section 404 of the Clean
               Water Act.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr1">
               (7)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content2">
               Activities undertaken pursuant to natural resources conservation service standards
               to restore the wetlands functions of converted wetlands as defined in title 7, Code
               of Federal Regulations Â§ 12.2.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (c)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Plan approval requirement for land-disturbing activity.</span> No person shall undertake any land-disturbing activity subject to this chapter without
               first obtaining a plan approval therefor from the county.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (d)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Protection of property.</span> Persons conducting land-disturbing activity shall take all responsible measures to
               protect all public and private property from damage caused by such activity.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (e)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">More-restrictive rules shall apply.</span> Whenever conflicts exist between federal, state, or local laws, ordinance, or rules,
               the more-restrictive provision shall apply.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="incr0">
               (f)
               </p>
            		
            <p class="content1">
               <span class="ital">Plan approval exceptions.</span> Notwithstanding the general requirement to obtain a plan approval prior to undertaking
               land-disturbing activity, a plan approval shall not be required for land-disturbing
               activity that does not exceed one acre in surface area. In determining the area, lands
               under one or diverse ownership being developed as a unit will be aggregated.
               </p>
            		
            <p class="historynote0">
               (Ord. No. 2008-18, 11-17-2008; Ord. No. 2021-10, 10-18-2021)
               </p></div>