A demolition permit shall be required for the removal of any structure. Any application for demolition of a structure 2,000 square feet or greater in size shall be accompanied by a demolition plan and either the signature of the property owner or of the County Manager. Such demolition plan shall be binding upon subsequent property owners and shall require the following:
(A) Identification of all above and below ground structures on the site including any wells or septic tanks and the applicant’s plan for their future use or closure;
(B) Any plans by the applicant for on-site burning and/or burial of any materials;
(C) Removal of all mowing obstructions, construction debris and materials and removal of all structural foundations unless the applicant demonstrates that the foundation is to be reused in the redevelopment of the property with such redevelopment beginning within six months of the issuance of the demolition permit;
(D) Removal of such materials within one month of the removal of the structure(s);
(E) Upon demolition, sewer line must be satisfactorily capped off by the property owner and/or contractor and inspected by the County of Lincoln Public Works Department or Lincoln County Environmental Health;
(F) Paved parking areas may be retained on site, although the property owner is required to maintain such areas so that they do not detract from the overall appearance of the property;
(G) Upon demolition, the lot where the demolition has occurred shall be sodded or hydro-seeded with a silt fence installed to prevent and eliminate erosion. This silt fence must be maintained in place until the lot has a vegetative cover of at least 70%. Any resulting holes (e.g. from basement levels) must be filled and returned to normal grade. The requirement for hydro-seeding or sodding may be waived at the discretion of the County Manager's satisfaction if the applicant demonstrates to the County Manager's satisfaction that redevelopment of the property will begin within six months of the issuance of the demolition permit;
(H) Deadline for completion of the demolition;
(I) A description of the applicant's plans for ongoing post-demolition maintenance of the lot;
(J) Proof of applicant's having obtained all necessary permits from the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and/or the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services or Lincoln County Natural Resources;
(K) All applications for demolition permits shall be accompanied by payment of a secure bond in the form of cash, certified check, cashier’s check or surety bond, based on the size of the structure(s) to be demolished as noted below. Any company that writes the surety bond must be licensed by the State of North Carolina and have been rated A or higher by A. M. Best Company. Any bond in the form of cash or certified/cashier’s check will be refunded within 30 days’ upon satisfactory completion and inspection of the subject property by the Zoning Administrator.
Secure Bond Amount | |
Structures between 2,000 and 2,500 square feet | $500 |
Structures greater than 2,500 and 3,000 square feet | $1,000 |
Structures greater than 3,000 square feet | $4 per square foot |
(L) The maximum secure bond amount required for any demolition, regardless of the size of the structure, shall not exceed $1,000,000.
(M) Structures on sites owned by local, state and federal governmental entities are exempt from this provision.
(N) Any demolition work to be performed as part of a new construction / redevelopment project and included as a part of the scope of the building permit for the new construction shall not be required to provide a secure bond separate and apart from the new building permit.
(O) Failure on the part of the property owner or his or her contractor to completely demolish, remove and clear the premises as stipulated in the demolition plan, after 30 days notice by the County Manager, shall be cause for forfeiture of the bond.
(P) Failure to comply with the provisions of this section shall subject the violator to penalties, enforcement and abatement as provided in the Lincoln County Unified Development Ordinance.
(Ord. passed 3-21-2022; Ord. passed 11-6-2023)