(A) Building permit. This section shall apply only to building permits. Example: landscape permits, etc. do not apply to this section.
(1) No person shall commence or proceed with the construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, removal, or demolition of any building or other structure, or any part thereof, the cost of which in labor and materials for each district project exceeds $15,000, without a written permit therefor from the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector’s cost determination shall override submitted estimates. Permits are required in cases of work projects whose costs are $15,000 and less when they involve the following:
(a) The addition, repair or replacement of load bearing structures;
(b) The addition (excluding replacement of same size and capacity) or change in the design of plumbing;
(c) The addition, replacement or change in the design of heating, air conditioning, or electrical wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment;
(d) The use of materials not permitted by the North Carolina Uniform Residential Building Code;
(e) The addition (excluding replacement of like grade of fire resistance) of roofing.
(f) Permits are required before commencing any construction, reconstruction, or alterations of structure south of the build-to-line on ocean-front properties and north of the build-to-line on marsh-side properties. Repairs involving replacement in kind require no permit.
(2) (a) When the project involves work only on the structure that does not change the exterior footprint or facade design, nor the taxable valuation of the structure, and does not exceed $15,000 in labor and materials, nor include any work item listed in subdivision (1) above, no permit shall be required. (See G.S. 143-138(b5)). Such projects include:
1. Maintenance of exterior such as replacing/repairing siding, nonstructural deck railing, and the like; painting, repair of stucco or masonry, repair of windows and doors not including header (structural) members;
2. Maintenance of interior such as repair or replace of like flooring (for example, carpet for carpet, wood for wood, tile for tile).
(b) The Building Inspector shall be the judge of projects discovered to be questionable under these guidelines, and as always, property owners shall have the right to formally appeal the judgements by the Building Inspector.
(3) In all cases of removal or demolition of a building or structure a good and sufficient bond, as listed in the fee schedule established by the Board of Commissioners and kept on file in the office of the Town Clerk, shall be posted by the property owner or by his or her contractor at the time of application for a permit to insure complete removal or demolition, including all rubble and debris. Failure on the part of the property owner or his contractor to completely demolish, remove and clear the premises, after 30 days notice by the Building Inspector, shall be cause for forfeiture of such bond.
(B) Plumbing permit. No person shall commence or proceed with the installation, extension, or general repair of any plumbing system without a written permit therefor from the Plumbing Inspector, provided, however, that no permit shall be required for minor repairs or replacements on the house side of a trap to an installed system of plumbing if such repairs or replacements do not disrupt the original water supply or the waste or ventilation systems. Board of Health approval of property for septic tank is required where town sewage system does not exist.
(C) Heating-air conditioning permit. No person shall commence or proceed with the installation, extension, alteration or general repair of any heating or cooling equipment without a written permit from the Heating-Air Conditioning Inspector, provided, however, that no permit shall be required for minor repairs or minor burner services or filter replacements of warm air furnaces or cooling system.
(D) Electrical permit. No person shall commence or proceed with the installation, extension, alteration, or general repair of any electrical wiring, devices, appliances or equipment without a written permit therefor from the Electrical Inspector, provided, however, that no permit shall be required for minor repair work such as the replacement of lamps or the connection of portable devices to suitable receptacles which have been permanently installed; provided, further, that no permit shall be required for the installation, alteration, or repair of the electrical wiring, devices, appliances and equipment installed by or for an electrical public utility corporation for the use of such corporation in the generation, transmission, distribution, or metering of electrical energy, or for the use of such corporation in the operation of signals or the transmission of intelligence.
(Ord. passed 6-9-83; Am. Ord. passed 1-9-03; Am. Ord. passed 8-22-03; Am. Res. passed 8-11-11; Am. Ord. 2016-001, passed 2-11-16; Am. Ord. passed - -) Penalty, see § 10.99
Cross-reference:
Building permit required; application, see § 153.136
Building permit required; application, see § 153.136