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INSPECTION DEPARTMENT
§ 150.50  ORGANIZATION.
   (A)   The Inspection Department shall consist of a Building Inspector, an Electrical Inspector, a Mechanical Inspector, a Plumbing Inspector and the other inspectors or deputy or assistant inspectors as may be authorized by the Board of Commissioners.
   (B)   On and after the applicable date set forth in the schedule in G.S. § 160A-411, no town shall employ an inspector to enforce the state building code as a member of the town’s Inspection Department who does not have one of the following types of certificates issued by the North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board attesting to his or her qualifications to hold the position:
      (1)   A probationary certificate, valid for one year only;
      (2)   A standard certificate; or
      (3)   A limited certificate which shall be valid only as an authorization for him or her to continue in the position held on the date specified in G.S. § 143-151.13(c) and which shall become invalid if he or she does not successfully complete in-service training specified by the Qualification Board within the period specified in G.S. § 143-151.13(c).
   (C)   An inspector holding one of the above certificates can be promoted to a position requiring a higher level certificate only upon issuance by the Qualification Board of a standard certificate or probationary certificate appropriate for the new position.
(G.S. § 160A-411.1)  (1988 Code, § 150.50)
Statutory reference:
Inspection Department, see G.S. § 160A-411
§ 150.51  DUTIES AND POWERS OF INSPECTORS.
   (A)   The Inspection Department shall possess all the powers conferred and perform all the duties prescribed by G.S. §§ 160A-412 et seq. and other statutes applicable thereto.  The Inspectors shall possess such further powers and perform such further duties as may be prescribed by this chapter.  They shall collect the fees allowed by statute and fixed by this chapter to be collected for the town.
   (B)   The Inspection Department and the inspectors therein shall enforce within the town, state and local laws relating to: the construction of buildings and other structures; the installation of such facilities as plumbing systems, electrical systems, heating systems, refrigeration systems and air conditioning systems; the maintenance of buildings and other structures in a safe, sanitary and healthful condition; and other matters that may be specified by the Board of Commissioners.  These duties shall include the receipt of applications for permits and the issuance or denial of permits, the making of any necessary inspections, the issuance or denial of certificates of compliance, the issuance of orders to correct violations, the bringing of judicial actions against actual or threatened violations, the keeping of adequate records and any other actions that may be required in order adequately to enforce those laws.  The Board of Commissioners shall have the authority to enact reasonable and appropriate provisions governing the enforcement of those laws.
(G.S. § 160A-412)
   (C)   Inspectors are also authorized, empowered and directed to enforce all the provisions of this chapter and the regulatory codes herein adopted.
   (D)   Inspectors shall have the right of entry on any premises within the jurisdiction of the Inspection Department, at all reasonable hours, for the purpose of inspection or other enforcement action, upon presentation of proper credentials.
   (E)   (1)   Whenever any building or structure or part thereof is being demolished, constructed, reconstructed, altered or repaired in a hazardous manner or in substantial violation of any state or town building law or in a manner that endangers life or property, the appropriate inspector may order the specific part of the work that is in violation or presents such a hazard to be immediately stopped.  The order shall be in writing to the person doing the work and shall state the specific work to be stopped, the specific reasons therefor and the conditions under which the work may be resumed.
      (2)   The owner or builder may appeal from a stop order involving alleged violation of the state building code or any approved local modification thereof to the State Commissioner of Insurance within a period of five days after the order is issued.  Notice of appeal shall be given in writing to the Commissioner of Insurance, with a copy to the Town Inspector.  The Commissioner of Insurance shall promptly conduct a hearing at which the appellant and the Inspector shall be permitted to submit relevant evidence and shall rule on the appeal as expeditiously as possible. Pending the ruling by the Commissioner of Insurance on an appeal no further work shall take place in violation of a stop order.
      (3)   Appeals from a stop order based on violation of any other town ordinance relating  to buildings shall be taken to the local official designated by the town and shall be taken, heard and decided in the same manner as prescribed herein for appeals to the Commissioner. Violation of a stop order shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(G.S. § 160A-421)
(1988 Code, § 150.51)
Statutory reference:
   Duties and responsibilities, see G.S. § 160A-412
   Failure to perform, see G.S. § 160A-416
   Inspections of work in progress, see G.S. § 160A-420
§ 150.52  CONFLICTS OF INTEREST.
   No member of the Inspection Department shall be financially interested in the furnishing of labor, material or appliances for the construction, alteration or maintenance of any building within the town’s jurisdiction or any part or system thereof or in the making of plans or specifications therefor, unless he or she is the owner of the building.  No member of the Inspection Department shall engage in any work which is inconsistent with his or her duties or with the interests of the town.
(G.S. § 160A-415)  (1988 Code, § 150.52)  Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 150.53  RECORDS AND REPORTS.
   The Inspection Department shall keep complete and accurate records in convenient form of all applications received, permits issued, inspections and reinspections made, defects found, certificates of compliance granted and all other work and activities of the Inspection Department.  These records shall be kept in the manner and for the periods prescribed by the State Department of Cultural Resources.  Periodic reports shall be submitted to the Board of Commissioners and to the State Commissioner of Insurance as they shall by ordinance, rule or regulation require.
(G.S. § 160A-433)  (1988 Code, § 150.53)  Penalty, see § 10.99
§ 150.54  INSPECTION PROCEDURE.
   (A)   Inspections of work in process. The Inspection Department shall inspect all buildings and structures and work therein for which a permit of any kind has been issued as often as necessary in order to determine whether the work complies with this chapter and the appropriate codes. When deemed necessary by the appropriate inspector, materials and assemblies may be inspected at the point of manufacture or fabrication or inspections may be made by approved and recognized inspection organizations.  However, no approval shall be based upon reports of the organizations, unless the same are in writing and certified by a responsible officer of the organization.  All holders of permits or their agents, shall notify the Inspection Department and the appropriate inspector at each of the following stages of construction, so that approval may be given before work is continued: 
      (1)   Foundation inspection.  To be made after trenches are excavated and the necessary reinforcement and forms are in place and before concrete is placed.  Drilled footings, piles and similar types of foundations shall be inspected as installed.
      (2)   Framing inspection.  To be made after all structural framing is in place and all roughing-in of plumbing and electrical and heating has been installed, after all fire blocking, chimneys, bracing and vents are installed, but before any of the structure is enclosed or covered. Poured-in-place concrete structural elements shall be inspected before each pour of any structural member.
      (3)   Fireproofing inspection.  To be made after all areas required to be protected by fireproofing are lathed, but before the plastering or other fireproofing is applied.
      (4)   Final inspection.  To be made after the building or structure has all doors hung and fixtures set and is ready for occupancy, but before the building is occupied.
   (B)   Calls for inspection.  Request for inspections may be made to the Office of the Inspection Department or to the appropriate inspector.  The Inspection Department shall make inspections as soon as practicable after requests are made therefor, provided the work is ready for inspection at the time the request is made.
      (1)   Reinspections.
         (a)   Reinspections may be at the convenience of the Inspector.  No work shall be inspected until it is in proper and completed condition ready for inspection.
         (b)   All work which has been concealed before the inspection and approval shall be uncovered at the request of the Inspector and placed in condition for proper inspection.
         (c)   Approval or rejection of the work shall be furnished by the appropriate inspector in the form of a notice posted on the building or given to the permit holder or his or her agent.
      (2)   Lack of inspection a violation.  Failure to call for inspections or proceeding without approval at each stage of construction shall be deemed a violation of this chapter.
   (C)   Street or alley lines.  Where the applicant for a permit proposes to erect any building or structure on the line of any street, alley or other public place, he or she shall secure a survey of the line of the street, alley or other public place adjacent to the property upon which the building or structure is to be erected, before proceeding with construction of the building or structure.  It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector to see that the building does not encroach upon the street, alley or other public place.
   (D)   Certificates of compliance.  At the conclusion of all work done under a permit, the appropriate inspector shall make a final inspection and if he or she finds that the completed work complies with all applicable state and local laws and with the terms of the permit, he or she shall issue a certificate of compliance.  No new building or part thereof may be occupied, no addition or enlargement of an existing building may be occupied and no existing building that has been altered or moved may be occupied, until the Inspection Department has issued a certificate of compliance.  A temporary certificate of compliance may be issued permitting occupancy for a stated period of specified portions of the building that the Inspector finds may safely be occupied prior to final completion of the entire building. Violation of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor.
(G.S. § 160A-423)
   (E)   Periodic inspections. The Inspection Department shall make periodic inspections, subject to the Board of Commissioner’s directions, for unsafe, unsanitary or otherwise hazardous and unlawful conditions in structures within its territorial jurisdiction.  In addition, it shall make inspections when it has reason to believe that such conditions may exist in a particular structure.  In exercising this power, members of the Department shall have a right to enter on any premises within the jurisdiction of the Department at all reasonable hours for the purposes of inspection or other enforcement action, upon presentation of proper credentials.
(1988 Code, § 150.54)  Penalty, see § 10.99
Statutory reference:
   Certificates of compliance, see G.S. § 160A-423
   Inspection of work in process, see G.S. § 160A-420
   Periodic inspections, see G.S. § 160A-424
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