Orange County NC Website
Article 9: Enforcement 33 <br />Section 9.9: Stormwater Management <br />(a) The Board of County Commissioners shall notify the person who is <br />assessed the civil penalty of the amount of the penalty and the reason <br />for assessing the penalty. <br />(b) The notice of assessment shall be served by any means authorized <br />under Section 9.9.1 of this Ordinance, and shall direct the violator to <br />either pay the assessment or contest the assessment, within 30 days <br />after the receipt of the notice of assessment, by written demand for a <br />hearing. <br />(c) If payment is not received within 30 days after demand for payment is <br />made, the Erosion Control Officer may institute a civil action to recover <br />the amount of the assessment. <br />(d) The civil action may be brought in the Superior Court of the county where <br />the violation occurred, or in the county where the violator's residence or <br />principal place of business is located. <br />(e) Such civil actions must be filed within three years of the date the <br />assessment was due. <br />(f) An assessment that is not contested is due when the violator is served <br />with a notice of assessment. <br />(g) An assessment that is contested is due at the conclusion of the <br />administrative and judicial review of the assessment. <br />(3) Credit of Civil Penalties <br />(a) Civil penalties collected pursuant to this Section of the Ordinance shall <br />be credited to the Givil Perm+β€ž and- Forfeiture I=β€žnd Orange County <br />general fund as nontax revenue4. <br />(B) Criminal Penalties <br />Any person who knowingly or willingly violates any stormwater management provision of <br />this Ordinance or rule or order adopted or issued pursuant to these regulations, or who <br />knowingly or willfully initiates or continues a development activity for which a Stormwater <br />Management Plan is required except in accordance with the terms, conditions, and <br />provisions of an approved plan shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by <br />imprisonment not to exceed 90 days or by a fine not to exceed $5,000, or by both, at the <br />discretion of the court. <br />9.9.3 Injunctive Relief <br />(A) Civil Action in Superior Court <br />(1) Whenever the Board of County Commissioners has reasonable cause to believe <br />that any person is violating or threatening to violate the stormwater management <br />provisions of this Ordinance or any rule or order adopted or issued pursuant to <br />these regulations, or any term, condition, or provision of an approved Stormwater <br />Management Plan, it may, either before or after the institution of any other action <br />or proceeding authorized by this Ordinance, institute a civil action in the name of <br />the county for injunctive relief to restrain the violation or threatened violation. <br />(2) The action shall be brought in the Superior Court of Orange County. <br />(B) Order to Cease Violation <br />4 NCGS § 113A- 64(a)(5) states that penalties collected by State agencies under § 113A shall be credited to the Civil <br />Penalty and Forfeiture Fund while penalties collected by local governments are credited to the local government's <br />general fund as nontax revenue. <br />Orange County, North Carolina β€” Unified Development Ordinance Page 9 -15 <br />