Construction Standards Program
Changes in Policies
As part of our ongoing efforts to improve the level of service we provide to the construction and development community, and to accommodate our growing workload while we are short staffed, the following changes have been implemented. Thank you in advance for your cooperation and understanding. Office Hours:
Effective immediately Inspectors office hours will be 8 – 9 am and 4 – 5 pm Monday through Friday. All others are by appointment. Please contact the Inspector directly for times and availability.
Review Schedule:
Both Residential and Commercial Construction plans will be assigned and reviewed in the order in which they are received by the Inspections Desk. If a contractor has several plans for review, upon submittal please specify to the Inspections staff if there is an order of priority for your plans. We will make every attempt to accommodate your request, but cannot adjust the priority of one set of plans over plans currently under review for other contractors.
All Residential Construction plans submitted shall be assigned to one of the four (4) Trade Inspectors for review. We will strive to have residential plans reviewed within 1 to 3 working days upon receipt. Please contact the Inspections Desk at (252) 399-2219 or – 2220 for information about the assignment of any specific set of plans.
All Commercial Construction plans submitted will undergo an individual trade review process, with each trade (building, plumbing, electric, mechanical and fire) being reviewed by an individual inspector. The review period is from 5 to 10 working days upon receipt. Please contact the Inspections Desk at (252) 399-2219 or - 2220 for the status of your construction plan review.
Same Day Inspections:
Any inspection received by 8:30 am will be scheduled for the same day. Any inspection request received after 8:30 am will be placed on the schedule for the next working day. Same Day Inspections (con't): To help improve the efficiency of our operations all inspection requests, other than those excepted below, should be made after the work is complete and ready for inspection. We will not be able to accommodate requests for specific time inspections (PM inspections). Those exceptions include: footings, below slab, emergency pressure tests, electrical service change outs and open ditches including water and sewer new or repair of line from the meter to the structure. These exceptions requests must be received by 8:30 am the day of request with the time indicated for inspection request.
New Code Books:
The new code books are available on-line at www.iccsafe.com or walk-in customers at the NC DOI Office in Raleigh located at 322 Chapanoke Road Raleigh, NC.
North Carolina Rehabilitation Code:
The North Carolina Rehabilitation Code is the first building code in the state written expressly for existing buildings. You may view the website or download a copy of the Code from the links below.
NC Rehabilitation Code
Download a Copy of the Code
Before You Build
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"It is a good idea to call U.Lo.Co. at 1.800.632.4949 to have all underground utilities, pipes, and wires located before you start to dig. They require 48 hours notice. If you accidently destry any tility lines, you woud be liable for any damage that results.
Before beginning on a new job site or having an electrical service relocated or changed, please contact the Utility Department at 252.399.2424 to have the proposed location of the electrical service spotted. Failure to do this may result in incurring charges or having to relocate equipment that has already been installed.
State law requires that an erosion control plan for land disturbing activities greater than one acre be filed with the state at least 30 days prior to beginning activitiy and be approved prior to construction. Failure to follow erosion control procedures required by the law could result in fines up to $500 per day. Failure to submit an erosion control plan for approval could reslt in a fine up to $1,000. Willful noncompliance is considered a misdemeanor punishable by improsonment not to exceed 90 days, or by fine not to exceed $5,000 or both. An injunction to stop construction may be issued.
Contact the Land Quality Section of the N.C. Department of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources at 919.571.4700 for more information on state requirements.
Commercial jobs require site review and appoval. Please contact Janet Batten-Holland, Technical Review Coordinator with questions. At 252.399.2215.
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Building
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Inquiries regarding the building code or a building inspection may be directed to Jerry Cooper, Code Enforcement Officer, at 252.399.2221 during office hours.
To check the status of your plan review, you may call the Inspection Department at 252.399.2220 or 252.399.2219.
To change the occupancy of a commercial building, please contact the Inspections Desk at 252.399.2220 or 252.399.2219 to talk with an available inspector. The building may have to be brought up to code (building and handicap) depending on the new use of the building. North Carolina State Building Code requires that all job sites be kept free and clean of debris.
To report a site that needs cleaning, please leave a message at 252.399.2219 or 252.399.2220. Certificates of Occupancy will be issued for completed sites by the Inspection Division after all other applicable departments have signed off their approval such as Fire and Public Services.
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Building Permit Expirations
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Note that all job sites must obtain the first inspection within six months of permit issuance and at least one inspection per year to keep the permit valid.
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Electrical
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To report illegal electrical work or work being done without the proper permits please call 252.399.2219 or 252.399.2220. Any building, commercial or residential, which has not had active utilities in the last year must be inspected by our Electrical Inspector. You may dial 252.399.2219 or 252.399-2220 to set up an appointment. This inspection must be performed to ensure that the electrical wiring is safe.
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General Information
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Almost all interior and exterior work requires a building permit to be issued prior to beginning construction. Performing work without a permit may put you in jeopardy of receiving a $100 late charge and possibly a stop work order.
To report work that is being done illegally you may call 252.399.2220 or 252.399.2219. We want to help you comply with the laws, and we strive to provide a maximum review time of three days (usually less) on construction plans. If your project requires a site or subdivision plan, these also require adequate time to review, contact Janet Batten-Holland, Assistant Director at 252.399.2215.
To apply for permits or obtain information such as permit status fees, please go to the Inspection Division, second floor of City Hall, 112 Goldsboro Street E.or call 252.399.2219 or 252.399.2220. Inspection requests must be made before an inspector will visit and may be taken at the location or at these numbers.
You may check the status of an inspection by looking for stickers inside the front door jam of the building. Each inspector will apply either a green or red sticker after completing his inspection. The green sticker signifies a passed inspection. A red sticker signifies a failed inspection. There may also be a brief description on the sticker.
For information on zoning compliance, setbacks, flood information, watershed information, or planning-related matters, please call 252.399.2219 or 252.399.2220. To report an overgrown lot or an abandoned/junked vehicle located on private property, please call 252.399.2219 or 252.399.2220. Our Code Compliance Specialist may also be dialed directly to request a courtesy housing inspection at 252.206.5287. To report an abandoned vehicle on the street, please call the Police Department at 252.399.2332.
Contractors may request temporary permanent electrical service in the Inspections Division. Homeowners acting as their own general contractor should contact a Customer Service representative located on the first lfoor of City Hall. If you would like to apply to have your permanent electric service released temporarily, you must first sign an affidavit with the Inspection Division and pay a $200 deposit to enter the program. An order request must also be made with Customer Services for the utilities to be turned on after the service has been released by us.
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Interpretations
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Each inspector handles interpretations or technical inquiries. Janet Holland, Interim Development Services Director, handles detailed appeals. All other appeals may contact the North Carolina Department of Insurance (http://www.ncdoi.com/) for an informal interpretation. Formal interpretations must be requested in writing.
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Mechanical
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Any gas service that has been turned off for one (1) year or more must have a pressure test conducted and inspected on the gas lines. This is performed to ensure that there are no gas leaks on the lines before gas service is delivered to the building. You may fill out an application to apply for a gas tap in the Inspection Division. There will be a charge of $50. Any questions regarding loacation or installation time should be referred to the Gas Division at 252.399.2432. If you think that you smell gas or may have a leak, call the Gas Division immediately at 252.399.2432.
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Plumbing
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To report water or sewer problems causing a health hazard, such as leaking sewage or a lack of water, please call 252.399.2219 or 252.399.2220. To apply for water and sewer taps you may fill out the application in the Inspections Division. The order is then forwarded to Public Services. Any questions regarding location or time of installations can be answered by calling Maribeth McKinnon for water or sewer taps at 252.246.1103. To inquire about water and sewer taps or any fees associated with connecting to the water and sewer lines, please contact Bryant Bunn, City Engineer, at 252.399.2465. For problems with residential interior plumbing, please call Kevin Medeiros, Code Compliance Inspector at 252.206-5287. For information on the Backflow Prevention Program, contact Martin Ball, Public Services at 252.399.2460.
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Business Licenses
