156-25. Protection of canals, ditches, and natural drains.
If any person shall fell any tree in any ditch, canal, or natural drainway of any farm, unless he shall remove the same and put such ditch, canal, or natural drainway in as good condition as it was before such tree was so felled; or if any person shall stop up or fill in such ditch, canal, or drainway and thereby obstruct the free passage of water along the said ditch, canal, or drainway, unless the said person shall first secure the written consent of the landowner, and those damaged by such obstruction in said ditch, canal, or drainway, or unless such person so filling in and stopping up such ditch, canal, or drainway shall, upon the demand of the person so damaged, clean out and put the said ditch, canal, or drainway in as good condition as the same was before such filling in and stopping up of the said ditch, canal, or drainway happened, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor. (1901, c. 478; Rev., s. 3382; C.S., s. 5283; 1993, c. 539, s. 1072; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c).)
Structure North Carolina General Statutes
North Carolina General Statutes
Article 1 - Jurisdiction in Clerk of Superior Court.
§ 156-1 - Supplemental proceeding.
§ 156-2 - Petition filed; commissioners appointed.
§ 156-3 - Duty of commissioners.
§ 156-4 - Report and confirmation; easement acquired; exceptions.
§ 156-5 - Width of right-of-way for repairs.
§ 156-6 - Right of owner to fence; entry for repairs.
§ 156-7 - Earth for construction of dam; removal of dam.
§ 156-8 - Earth from canal removed or leveled.
§ 156-9 - No drain opened within 30 feet.
§ 156-10 - Right to drain into canal.
§ 156-11 - Expense of repairs apportioned.
§ 156-12 - Notice of making repairs.
§ 156-13 - Judgment against owner in default; lien.
§ 156-14 - Subsequent owners bound.
§ 156-15 - Amount of contribution for repair ascertained.
§ 156-16 - Petition by servient owner against dominant owner.
§ 156-17 - Commissioners to examine lands and make report.
§ 156-18 - Cost of repairs enforced by judgment.
§ 156-19 - Obstructing canal or ditch dug under agreement.
§ 156-20 - Right of dominant owner to repair.
§ 156-23 - Easement of drainage surrendered.
§ 156-24 - Obstructing drain cut by consent.
§ 156-25 - Protection of canals, ditches, and natural drains.
§ 156-26 - Procedure upon agreement.
§ 156-27 - Recovery for benefits; payment of damages.
§ 156-28 - Notice to landowners; assessments made by viewers.
§ 156-29 - Report filed; appeal and jury trial.