(A) A local government may create an inspection department and may appoint inspectors who may be given appropriate titles, such as building inspector, electrical inspector, plumbing inspector, housing inspector, zoning inspector, heating and air-conditioning inspector, fire prevention inspector, or deputy or assistant inspector, or such other titles as may be generally descriptive of the duties assigned. Every local government shall perform the duties and responsibilities set forth in G.S. § 160D-1105 either by (i) creating its own inspection department, (ii) creating a joint inspection department in cooperation with one or more other units of local government, pursuant to G.S. § 160D-1105 or G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 20, Part 1, (iii) contracting with another unit of local government for the provision of inspection services pursuant to G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 20, Part 1, or (iv) arranging for the county in which a city is located to perform inspection services within the city's jurisdiction as authorized by G.S. § 160D-1105 and G.S. § 160D-202.
(B) In the event that any local government fails to provide inspection services or ceases to provide such services, the Commissioner of Insurance shall arrange for the provision of such services, either through personnel employed by the department or through an arrangement with other units of government. In either event, the Commissioner shall have and may exercise within the local government’s planning and development regulation jurisdiction all powers made available to the Board of Aldermen with respect to building inspection under this Article 10 and G.S. Ch. 160A, Art. 20, Part 1.
(C) Whenever the Commissioner has intervened in this manner, the local government may assume provision of inspection services only after giving the Commissioner two years’ written notice of its intention to do so; provided, however, that the Commissioner may waive this requirement or permit assumption at an earlier date upon finding that such earlier assumption will not unduly interfere with arrangements made for the provision of those services.
(G.S. § 160D-1102) (Ord. passed 7-1-2021)