Plan Approval Process

Charlotte , NC – Starting March 3, more residential building projects will require plan approval. Residential projects that meet the following conditions will require building plan review through Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement:

· Full building review on all townhouse projects, including footprint additions or structural modifications. A per unit Master Plan Program is available; only individual units are eligible.

· All new one and two family residences.

· Any enclosed addition to the primary residence, which increases the original footprint. This excludes decks and screen porches.

· Interior renovation projects valued equal to or greater than $175,000.

· Projects of unconventional building methods (approved alternate methods or methods outside of the NC Residential Code).

The Board of County Commissioners approved the plan review expansion on November 7, 2007 in order to achieve the highest rating issued by the Insurance Service Office (ISO). Achieving the highest rating will immediately affect the insurance rates for customers living in a flood plain and will eventually affect all residential rates.

County Code Enforcement has doubled its plan review staff to keep review turn-around times at the current level. However, projects that fall into the new categories, which have been exempt in the past, will now experience a three to five day delay for permitting. The exception will be small projects requiring plan review (room additions 500 sq. ft. and smaller). Those will be expedited to a 24-hour turn-around to reduce the delay in starting the project.

Technical contacts: Mano Parr or Rob Ellis at 704-432-7822. Media Contact: Roger W. Kortekaas at 704-336-2597 or roger.kortekaas@mecklenburgcountync.gov.

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