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The Dare County Building Inspection Office offers the
following information for property owners and residents of
unincorporated Dare County who have suffered storm damage to
their property as a result of Hurricane Irene.
A Dare County building permit is not needed for minor
repairs such as shingle replacement, window replacement, and
other non-structural repairs costing less than $5000.
Repairs that involve structural work and exceed $5000 in
cost will require a building permit. There will be no
building permit fees associated with storm damage repair or
reconstruction in the unincorporated areas.
Residents whose homes have experienced flooding or
electrical outlets or electrical equipment should contact a
North Carolina licensed electrician to inspect for possible
electrical hazards.
Property owners whose structures have been tagged by the
building inspector with an “UNSAFE STRUCTURE” notice are
advised to contact the building inspector at the telephone
number posted on the notice. In most instances,
repairs can be made to the structure to result in
re-certification of the structure for occupancy.
The unsafe structure notice does not mean the structure must
be demolished and cannot be repaired.
Property owners are reminded that areas
in a structure located below the minimum base flood
elevation for their property can only be used for storage as
established by the federal flood insurance regulations and
the North Carolina building code. Use of
areas below base flood for living areas, bedrooms, bathrooms
or other habitable space is prohibited by federal, state and
local flood regulations. Enclosed
portions of elevated structures (piling supported
structures) that are located below base flood may be used
for storage, building access or parking of vehicles. Flood vents are required in any storage area that is located
below the base flood elevation for the property.
The
first habitable floor of all structures located in a
floodplain shall be elevated above the applicable base flood
for that property. This requirement
does not apply to additions, renovations, or reconstruction
of any building which was constructed prior to the adoption
of flood insurance rate maps for that area if the addition,
renovation, or reconstruction does not exceed 50 percent of
the present market value of the structure. The
first flood insurance rate maps for unincorporated Dare
County were issued in 1978.
Copies of flood zone maps are kept in the Dare County
building inspections offices. Flood zone maps are
prepared by the federal government and provided to local
governments. The flood zone maps for unincorporated Dare
County were last updated in September 2006. A North
Carolina licensed surveyor or engineer can determine the
ground elevation of a site and the applicable flood zone for
that property.
An
elevation certificate, prepared by a North Carolina licensed
surveyor or engineer is necessary to demonstrate compliance
with the base flood elevation. A
copy of an elevation certificate is required to be submitted
to the building inspector in conjunction with any new
construction or other structural remodeling or repairs that
affect the habitable space of a structure.
The Planning Department, located at 2601 N. Croatan Highway
in Kill Devil Hills
Dare County
Administrative Building
954
Marshall C. Collins Drive
P.O. Drawer 1000
Manteo, NC
Phone: 252-475-5868
Fax: 252-473-6653 |
