In order to preserve and to protect public health and safety, and to satisfy the requirements of G.S. §§ 153A-364 and 160A-424, with respect to political subdivisions assuming inspection duties, as set out in G.S. §§ 153A-351 and 160A-411, and to satisfy the requirements of the State Building Code, the following inspection schedule shall apply to all buildings within the town except those buildings listed under Section 103, “Exceptions to Applicability” in the North Carolina State Building Code, Volume V, Fire Prevention:
(A) General inspection use permits.
(1) All buildings required by the N.C. Fire Code to be inspected shall obtain a general inspection use permit. The frequency rate of the inspections is based upon the minimum inspection schedule required by the N.C. Fire Code. Operational permits required by the N.C. Fire Code will be included in the general inspection use permit and will be listed on their permit as a provision(s). Departure from that type of operation would require another permit to be obtained. Operations or processes listed in the fee schedule as a special operations use permit are not included in the general inspection use permits. The various general inspection use permits and fees are as follows:
12-Month Inspections (Valid for One Year) | ||
Assembly | Square Feet | Fee |
12-Month Inspections (Valid for One Year) | ||
Assembly | Square Feet | Fee |
Hazardous | 0 - 7,500 | $30 |
High rise | 7,501 - 20,000 | $60 |
Institutional | 20,001 and up | $90 |
* Residential buildings including one- and two-family dwellings and only interior common area of multi-family dwellings | ||
24-Month Inspections (Valid for Two Years) | ||
Assembly | Square Feet | Fee |
Factory industrial | 0 - 7,500 | $25 |
Educational | 7,501 - 20,000 | $75 |
20,000 and up | $75 | |
36-Month Inspections (Valid for Three Years) | ||
Assembly | Square Feet | Fee |
Business | 0 - 7,500 | $20 |
Mercantile | 7,501 - 20,000 | $40 |
Storage | 20,000 and up | $60 |
Churches/synagogues are fee-exempt Multi-tenant buildings will only be permitted if the business has a common entrance/exit, low turnover and one owner | ||
(2) Buildings not fitting into one of the three general inspection use permit categories will be classified miscellaneous. Based upon the degree of hazard by the authority having jurisdiction, the building will be assigned to the appropriate general inspection use permit category and will follow its schedule and fees.
(B) Special operations permit.
Fire Code Section | Permit Type or Plan Review Type | Fee |
Fire Code Section | Permit Type or Plan Review Type | Fee |
105.6.1 | Aerosol products | $25 |
105.6.2 | Amusement buildings | $25 |
105.6.4 | Carnivals and fairs | $25 |
105.6.6 | Combustible dust producing operations | $25 |
105.6.8 | Compressed gases | $25 |
105.6.9 | Covered mall buildings | $25 |
105.6.10 | Cryogenic fluids | $25 |
105.6.11 | Cutting and welding | $25 |
105.6.13 | Exhibits and trade shows | $25 |
105.6.14 | Explosives | $25 |
105.6.16 | Flammable and combustible liquids 1-10 | $25 |
105.6.19 | Fumigation and thermal insecticidal fogging | $25 |
105.6.20 | Hazardous materials | $25 |
105.6.22 | High-piled storage | $25 |
105.6.23 | Hot work operations | $25 |
105.6.26 | Liquid-or-gas-fueled vehicles in buildings | $25 |
105.6.32 | Open flames and candles | $25 |
105.6.35 | Private fire hydrant | $25 |
105.6.36 | Pyrotechnic special effects material | $25 |
105.6.41 | Spraying or dipping | $25 |
105.6.43 | Temporary membrane structures | $50 |
105.6.44 | Tire rebuilding | $25 |
No provision of the general inspection use permit shall exceed 1.5 times the cost of original general inspection fee | ||
(C) Fire Department construction permits.
Fire Code Section | Permit Type or Plan Review Type | Fee |
Fire Code Section | Permit Type or Plan Review Type | Fee |
105.7.1 | Fire extinguishing system system plan review (construction permit) | $100 |
105.7.2 | Battery systems (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.3 | Compressed gases (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.4 | Fire alarm system plan review (construction permit) | $100 |
105.7.5 | Fire pumps (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.6 | Storage tank system (construction permit) | $100 |
105.7.7 | Hazardous materials (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.8 | Industrial ovens (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.10 | Private fire hydrants (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.11 | Spraying or dipping (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.12 | Standpipe systems (construction permit) | $50 |
105.7.13 | Temporary membrane structures (construction permit) | $50 |
Failure to obtain proper permits or final inspection could result in a civil citation fine up to $500. | ||
(D) Requested tests, inspections or services.
Fire flow test | $20 |
Copies of fire reports | $5 |
Investigation report with pictures | $10 |
Stand-by firefighter (four-hour minimum) (number of fire-fighters needed-deemed by code official) | $15/hour (collected on behalf of the Fire Department) |
Hazardous material - spills/fires | Actual cost |
Fireworks stand-by (Fire Department) | $100 (collected on behalf of the Fire Department) |
(E) Civil citations.
1st re-inspection (notice of non-compliance issued) | No fee |
2nd re-inspection | $25 + $50 for each outstanding Fire Code violation |
3rd re-inspection | Same as 2nd re-inspection |
4th re-inspection | $25 + $50 for each outstanding Fire Code violation, plus civil action (court) misdemeanor charges |
(F) Life safety G.S. § 143-138(h).
(1) Locked and/or blocked means of egress.
(2) Occupancy limit violation.
(3) Fire protection systems not up to standard.
(4) Improperly stored hazardous materials.
1st per violation | $100 |
2nd per violation | $250 |
3rd per violation | $500/business closed and civil action |
Parking in a fire lane | $50 |
Illegal burning 1st offense | $50 |
Illegal burning 2nd offense | $100 |
Illegal burning 3rd offense | $200 +$ 100 for each subsequent offense thereafter |
(G) False alarm. Nuisance alarms will be investigated by the Fire Marshal and fines up to $500 can be issued.
(H) Plan review fee.
Fee Per Square Foot | Square Feet |
Fee Per Square Foot | Square Feet | |
Assembly | $.07 | Up to 5,000 square feet |
Plus | $.05 | 5,001 - 20,000 |
Plus | $.03 | 20,001 and up |
Business | $.07 | Up to 15,000 |
Plus | $.05 | 15,001 - 30,000 |
Plus | $.03 | 30,001 - 45,000 |
Plus | $.01 | 45,001 and up |
Educational | $.07 | Up to 5,000 |
Plus | $.05 | 5,001 - 10,000 |
Plus | $.03 | 10,001 and up |
Factory/industrial | $.07 | Up to 15,000 |
Plus | ||
Plus | $.03 | 30,001 and up |
Hazardous | $.07 | Up to 20,000 |
Plus | $.05 | 20,001 and up |
Mercantile | $.07 | Up to 15,000 |
Plus | $.05 | 15,001- 30,000 |
Plus | $.03 | 30,001 - 45,000 |
Plus | $.01 | 45,001 and up |
Storage | $.071 | |
If the building is protected by a sprinkler system, add $.01 per square foot | ||
(Ord. O-2011-24, passed 3-1-2011) Penalty, see § 96.99