What is the effective date of this program? Or, if I already have a LEED certified facility, am I eligible for the rebate?

Program Start Date: (January 1, 2008). Eligibility to receive the fee rebate expires 24 months after the permit receives a Certificate of Occupancy (CO).

Are residential projects eligible?

Yes. The following criteria also apply:

• Project must be in Mecklenburg County
• Funds the amount of the rebate must be available
• Eligibility to receive the fee rebate expires 24 months after the permit receives a Certificate of Occupancy (CO)

What program certifications are eligible for this rebate?

Approved Certification Programs:

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

The Green Globes Program

EarthCraft House

NCHealthyBuilt Homes

NAHB National Green Building Program

As the program matures and additional programs are evaluated, there may be additions to the eligible programs, but at this time only the LEED and Green Globe are accepted. Mecklenburg County reserves the right to review and accept additional programs/classifications on a case by case basis.

Why is Mecklenburg County offering this rebate?

To promote energy conservation and resource management through sustainable building practices.

What do I have to provide with my application? Or what is the difference between the application and the certification form?

The application is the document submitted to the Department acknowledging the intent to benefit from the program. A completed Form W-9 Substitute: Taxpayer Identification Number Request Form must accompany this application. The certificate form is submitted after formal certification by one of the accepted programs. A copy of the  Certification must accompany the certificate form.

What if I disagree or would like to appeal my rebate amount?

Customers who elect to utilize this fee rebate program agree to the dispute resolution and the other conditions set forth in the Program Description. The existing appeal process, ending locally with the Director of Code Enforcement, will be used to resolve any disagreements regarding program qualification, or final certification. Should the customer choose to appeal beyond the Director of Code Enforcement, both parties will engage an arbitrator selected by the Department, with the arbitrator cost charged solely to the customer.

What is the rebate based upon? Or how is the rebate calculated?

The rebate is based on an annual 2%-5% maximum set aside of the previous year's building permit fees and this amount will be agreed to annually with the Building-Development Commission (BDC) and the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) as a part of the annual budget process.

If all funding is exhausted, the qualifying projects will be allowed to re-apply the following budget year by submitting a new application.

Rebates are calculated using the following method:

• Subtract any fee rebates obtained by the Contractor (for contractors low failure rate) from the project permit fee (per the LUESA Fee Ordinance) to obtain the Net Permit Fee
• Apply the following Fee Modifications to the Net Permit Fee
• Net Permit Fee does not include zoning or fire fees.
• Sustainable Design basis fee modification: provides a rebate of up to 25% of the Net Permit Fee to a maximum of $100,000 for projects on the following scale:

• All rebates will be issued to the owner designated on the application form.  The "owner" is the individual or entity that retains ownership of the project/property at the time the Certificate of Occupancy (CO) is issued.
  
  THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES NO GUARANTEE THAT FUNDING WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REBATES. REBATES ARE PROVIDED ON A FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED BASIS. FUTURE FUNDING OF THIS PROGRAM IS NOT GUARANTEED.