Fees for permits shall be based upon the total estimated cost of the proposed work, including all subcontracts, if any, but in no case shall the total estimated cost be less than the market value of similar completed work in the town as determined by the appropriate inspector or inspectors. Permit fees shall be as follows in divisions (A) through (E) of this section. The penalty assessed for starting work prior to issuance of a permit will be an amount equal to the original permit fee. Additionally, for all divisions of this section, the Building Inspector will charge a fee for reinspections. Reinspections are defined as additional visits to the work site by the Building Inspector, other than mandatory inspections, that are required due to performance deficiencies on the part of the permittee. Mandatory inspections include sites, footers, pilings including pre-installation quality verification and use of town-approved water meters and backflow prevention devices, foundations, joists/framing, sheathing nailing, rough-ins, and finals. Repair permits will be required for work necessary to repair hurricane or tornado damaged real property; repair permit fees are, however, may be waived from time to time in as a result of severe weather occurrences.
(A) Building permit fees.
(1) Building permits are required for all work which falls within the purview of this chapter. Fees for permits shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(2) Estimating values. For all new buildings, the applicable costs, as indicated on the schedule maintained in the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector, shall be multiplied by gross square footage, as measured from the outside walls, to determine minimum construction costs, including insulation. Garages, porches, patios, decks, walkways, carports, open terraces, and enclosed area at piling level are costed separately and added to the heated area square footage construction costs. Construction of other structures is evaluated and fees paid based on the value of work permitted.
(a) All bathrooms, elevators and all fireplaces are costed separately and added to heated area square footage construction costs. Fees for permits shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(b) For remodeling of an existing structure, fees will be based on actual contractor estimates and compared for accuracy against a cost per square foot of affected heated space. The higher cost will be used in determining the applicable fee.
(3) Asphalt/concrete driveways and parking areas. Fees for permits shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(B) Plumbing permit fees.
(1) Permit and inspection fees for plumbing work which falls within the purview of this chapter. Base charge and fees for permits and inspections shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(2) Any other plumbing fixture which comprises infrastructure related to the permit not mentioned in the schedule of division (1) above. Fees for permits and inspections shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(C) Mechanical permit fee.
(1) Permit and inspection fee for mechanical work which falls within the purview of this chapter. HVAC inspection base charge and fees for permits and inspections shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(2) A fee will be charged for extra mechanical inspections. Extra inspections are defined as those inspections over and above the completed rough-in and final inspection. Rough-in and final inspections are mandatory.
(D) Electrical permit fees.
(1) Permit and inspection fees for electrical work which falls within the purview of this chapter. Base charge and fees for permits shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(2) Base charge for new construction will be a flat rate which shall be based upon a schedule adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(3) For all other electrical contract work under this section the fee schedule shall be adopted by the Board of Commissioners, which shall be available at the office of the Clerk and the Building Inspector.
(Ord. passed 6-9-83; Am. Ord. passed 4-14-94 (Att. A through D); Am. Ord. passed 5-14-98; Am. Ord. passed 11-8-01; Am. Res. passed 4-8-04)
(E) Fire inspection.
(1) Fire inspections in the town are conducted for the purpose of identifying activities and conditions in multi-family buildings, structures and premises that pose dangers of fire, explosion or related hazards. The fee schedule and inspection frequency set forth in this division (E) for meeting the requirements of the State Fire Inspection Code have been adopted for use in the town.
(2) The fee schedule is based upon a reasonable scope of work to be expended by a Fire or Building Inspector. A fee schedule shall be reviewed annually by the Board after consultation with the Building Inspector and/or individuals who routinely provide inspections. The schedule shall be adopted by the Board of Commissioners on or before December 31 each year and the schedule shall be maintained in the offices of the Code Enforcement Officer and the Town Clerk. Each multi-family dwelling shall require access to individual unit wood balconies. If visual inspection of balconies cannot be accomplished due to obstructions, access will be required on a case by case basis. Elevator control rooms require key access. Pool equipment rooms, fire suppression flood valve rooms, and maintenance buildings (which may house hazardous storage) and elevator control rooms require entry by the Fire or Building Inspector. The Fire or Building Inspector must physically enter the structure and check closets, electrical, mechanical and the like. Property owners shall provide access to the Building Inspector within a reasonable time of the request.
(3) Inspection frequency and facility description. Fire inspections shall be completed as required by the current North Carolina Fire Prevention Code as adopted by the North Carolina Building Code Council.
(4) Structures built within the town following the adoption of this section, and not delineated above, shall be inspected on an annual basis if the structure is subject to the Fire Prevention Code.
(Am. Ord. passed 1-9-03; Am. Res. 12-11-03; Am. Res. 4-8-04; Am. Ord. 2013-09-O, passed 6-13-13; Am. Ord. 2016-001, passed 2-11-16)