As we have learned over recent years, water is the most precious resource that we have and a clean drinking supply is critical to the health, safety, and well-being of all citizens. For this reason, the County has long had in place a Watershed Protection Ordinance. Watershed protection includes the limitation of built-upon or "impervious" surface area, the requirement of larger minimum lot sizes, and the requirement of natural "riparian" buffers on perennial streams, rivers, and lakes. Watershed protection also includes some limitations on the permitted uses of land located within a watershed.

The Alamance County Planning Department has developed a brochure titled "A Citizen's Guide to Watershed Protection" that we hope you will find useful and informative. It can be found by clicking here.

A full-copy of the Watershed Protection Ordinance can be found to the left of this page under "Alamance County Land Use Ordinances".