Agenda 6-c - Resolution Approving a Policy of Additional Inspections for Residential Projects

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building partners has been displeasure for this adjustment. Staff have been asked (by nearly 100% of permit Applicants) to allow the traditional inspection practices to continue, which had been working without complaint. Orange County Inspections petitioned the NC Building Code Council in March of 2014 to approve 46 separate additional Inspections. These petitions were not addressed nor acted upon by the Council. On March 12, 2018 Orange County Inspections attempted to submit new petitions for 35 residential inspections to the NC Building Code Council. At that time Staff was informed that the Council did not have a policy for how to process these requests. Staff was instructed to provide an example of our petition and return for the June 11, 2018 meeting to re- submit our request for these additional Inspections. At that June meeting the NC Building Code Council declined hearing the petitions without prior approval by the Orange County Board of County Commissioners and Town of Hillsborough's Board of Commissioners. Orange County Inspections Division maintains that restricting our building partners to only the 8 listed inspections creates unnecessary obstacles that may lead to our Building Safety Officials overlooking deficiencies and hazards due to the consolidation of the opportunities to perform Staff's sworn duties in an efficient and effective manner. What Staff is required to inspect has not been changed or diminished, only when Staff are able to view the process. Since adjusting to the Listed 8 inspections, Orange County Inspections Division is facing limitations of the Permitting computer systems that cannot adequately track the multiple "partially approved" inspections that are necessary to function within the limitation of the 8 inspections. Similarly requiring Orange County's Building Partners to hold -off, consolidate and adjust their scheduling to adhere to the fewer types of inspection options is costly, inefficient and arguably unnecessary. This request for a policy approval from the Orange County Board of Commissioners for the Orange County Inspections Division to add additional inspections would serve to facilitate a more timely and efficient inspection process (historically experienced prior to this Bill's enactment). This Policy would ensure the builder and sub - contractor has the flexibility and control over their scheduling and sequence of inspections and to effectively continue with Orange County's proven protocol. Orange County Inspections has a 98% rate of performing inspections for the next business day. Delays and increased cost of construction expected in the construction process, as a result from these additional inspections, is not supported by the history and experience over 20 years, as is argued by the NC Home Builders Association. Orange County Inspections Division maintains the focus upon working as partners with the building community and stakeholders. Staff provides information freely and works with these partners to meet their needs whenever possible. Staff seeks to be fair and consistent in our application of the minimum Code requirements. Staff listens to concerns and work to mitigate issues for all parties. The following table illustrates the comparable historic sub - inspections within the 8 master inspection categories notes in NCACP Section 107.