Do all wetlands have a 300 foot buffer?
No. The original legislation transmitted by the Executive proposed 300 foot buffers for Category I wetlands in rural areas (Category I is the highest quality, most rare type of wetland). Under the amended ordinance adopted by the Council, buffers for Category I wetlands will be based on a combination of land use intensity, actual wildlife functions, and actual water quality functions. • In the rural area, Category I wetland buffers will range from 75 to 225 feet for rural residential development, with most falling in the middle of this range. Buffers can be reduced further with a Rural Stewardship Plan. • In the urban area, Category I wetland buffers will range from 125 to 225 feet.
