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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 15, 2011 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. ~_ <br />SUBJECT: Interlocal Agreement with the Town of Hillsborough for Plan Review, Inspection, <br />Building Official and Related Services <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />1. Interlocal Agreement <br />2. Cost Recovery Analysis Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 245-2592 <br />Susan Mellot, Building Official, 245-2623 <br />PURPOSE: To establish a formal agreement between Orange County and the Town of <br />Hillsborough to provide enforcement of the North Carolina Building Codes including plan review, <br />building official and related services pertaining to the North Carolina State Building Codes. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Current Agreement <br />Currently, the Orange County Building Inspections Division provides administration and <br />enforcement of the North Carolina State Building Codes for the Town of Hillsborough working <br />under a 1974 "handshake" agreement between the Town of Hillsborough and Orange County <br />regarding building and electrical inspections. <br />Enabling Legislation <br />Orange County provides administration and enforcement of the North Carolina State Building <br />Codes for the Town of Hillsborough pursuant to G.S. § 160A-413, North Carolina Statutes, also <br />known as the N.C. General Statutes, Enforcement of North Carolina Building Code which <br />permits the Town to request the board of county commissioners to exercise their powers within <br />Town's jurisdiction, and they shall thereupon be empowered to do so until the Town officially <br />withdraws its request in the manner provided in G.S. 160A-360(8). (1969, c. 1065, s. 1; 1971, <br />c. 698, s. 1; 1973, c. 426, s. 64; 1993, c. 232, s.3. <br />Level of Service <br />Prior to 2004 the building division was understaffed and inspections were sometimes delayed <br />one to two weeks beyond the requested date. Since 2004, next day inspections are completed <br />99% of the time. In 2010, the County experienced a 7% decrease in inspections activity from <br />2009 and was able to raise the level of service by conducting same day inspections when <br />requested. Residential permits are processed by Inspections within 2 - 3 days (some being <br />issued the same day depending on project complexity) and commercial permits are processed <br />within 1 - 2 weeks of receipt. <br />