(A) Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code or this subchapter adopted by the Town Commissioners, or fail to comply therewith, or who shall violate or fail to comply with any order made thereunder, or who shall build in violation of any statement of specifications or plans submitted and approved thereunder or any certificate or permit issued thereunder, shall be subject to penalties as specified below as approved by the town. These penalties shall be recovered by the town in a civil action in the nature of debt if the offender does not pay the penalties within a period of 30 days after the issuance of the notice of violation. The notice of violation shall be in writing, signed by the Inspections Department and/or the Fire Official charged with the enforcement of the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code or this subchapter, and shall be delivered or mailed to the offender either at his or her residence or place of business or at the location where the violation occurred. Each day’s continuing violation shall be a separate and distinct offense. Any action to recover such penalties may be joined in an action for appropriate equitable remedy, including injunctions and orders of abatement and including an action to recover damages by the town in abating, correcting, limiting, and otherwise dealing with the harmful effects of the offending action.
Civil Penalty Schedule | |
First offense | $100 |
Second offense | $300 |
Third and subsequent offenses | $500 |
(B) Violation(s) consisting of locked and/or blocked exits, impedance of the occupants to quickly evacuate a structure or premise, or conditions posing imminent danger to the occupants on or about the premises or violation(s) of occupancy limits established pursuant to the North Carolina State Building and/or Fire Code must be corrected during the time of the inspection if at all possible.
(Ord. 11-01, passed 2-8-11; Am. Ord. 21-10, passed 6-15-21)