INSPECTIONS AND PERMITS DEPARTMENT

 

Additional information about the Inspections and Permits Department may be obtained by calling Bob Strowbridge, Director of Inspections and Permits, at (919) 469-4033, through e-mail at bob.strowbridge@townofcary.org or by visiting the Town’s website at www.townofcary.org.

 

TOWN OF CARY GOALS AND INITIATIVES

Town Focus Areas

Focus Area I:

Community Planning

Focus Area II:  Infrastructure

Focus Area III:  Financial Condition

Focus Area IV:  Municipal Services

Town Goals

Achieve a well-planned community using innovative and proactive planning approaches and techniques.

Ensure that roads, water and wastewater facilities, parks, and other infrastructure exists for the existing citizens and for the future needs identified in the comprehensive plan.

Achieve a stable and strong financial position by accurately estimating, prudently allocating, and managing financial resources.

Achieve a high level of service to the citizens in a prompt, reliable, responsive, and cost-effective manner.

Town Initiatives

(pages 2 and 3 of this document contain full descriptions of each Town Initiative)

Growth Management

  Long Range Water Resources

Housing Program

Comprehensive Planning

Land Use Plan

Environmental Concerns

Infrastructure and Level of Service Standards

Fiscal Plan

Water, Wastewater, Transportation Infrastructure

Broad Band Technology Services

Long Term Financial Plan

Performance Measurement

Short Term Financial Planning

Review Operations

Cost Consciousness and Sustained Service Provision

Public Involvement

Departmental Goals and Initiatives

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,23,45,6 7,8

 

 

 

DEPARTMENTAL GOALS AND INITIATIVES

Central Permitting

1. Process construction and development related permits including building permits, electrical permits, plumbing permits, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning) permits and sign permits in accordance with the state building code and local ordinances, completely, efficiently, and expeditiously.

Inspections

2. Perform inspections of residential and commercial buildings and structures before, during, and after construction in a thorough and efficient manner.

3. Ensure compliance with the North Carolina State Building Code and the applicable sections of the Town of Cary Code of Ordinances.

4. Consult with design professionals, builders, subcontractors and property owners on code related issues and offer assistance with the construction process.

Minimum Housing/Post Construction

5. Respond to complaints from residents regarding violations of the Town’s minimum housing ordinance.

6. Provide support for the Healthy Neighborhoods Initiative.

7. Conduct hearings, research records, and provide follow-up reports on violations and/or resolutions.

8. Respond to citizen inquiries into perceived building code violations in homes constructed within the past six years by investigating, inspecting and consulting with homeowners/tenants, and subcontractors. 

9. Contact builders of record when applicable to request their assistance in correcting code violations.

 

FY 2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

·         All Code Officials and Plan Review Staff completed continuing education training on the North Carolina State Building Code.

·         Code Officials participated locally in at least five demonstration workshops focusing on subjects ranging from new electrical device design and installation, new plumbing fixtures and operation, grease hood design and installation and proper installation of “I” Joists and associated methods and materials.

·         The department produced six “lunch and learn” seminars designed to educate various trade groups on new code requirements and procedural changes.

 

KEY PERFORMANCE OBJECTIVES

·         Reduce re-inspection requests by 10% annually.

·         Conduct all construction inspections within 24 hours of request.

·         Perform initial plan review on new commercial buildings within four weeks of submittal and commercial fit-ups within two weeks of submittal.

·         Ensure 100% of all minimum housing cases are closed within the shortest timeframe allowed by law.

 

KEY PERFORMANCE MEASURES


Performance Measure

Actual
FY 2007

Estimated
FY 2008

Projected
FY 2009

% of total inspection requests that are re-inspections 

32%

32%

32%

% of scheduled inspections conducted within 24-hours

98%

       100%

       100%

% of minimum housing cases closed

63%

65%

65%

 

KEY WORKLOAD INDICATORS


Workload Indicator

Actual
FY 2007

Estimated
FY 2008

Projected     FY 2009

Number of Permits Issued
     -New Residential
     -New Non-residential
     -Other (Additions/Alterations, Individual Trade Permits)

            18,069

1,836

42

15,707

18,000

1,800

60

15,700

 

18,000

1,800

60

15,700

 

Number of Re-inspections

29,174

32,288

32,288

Number of inspections performed

100,872

100,900

100,900

Number of minimum houses cases

78

85

85

Residential Certificates of Occupancy (CO) issued

3,688

3,873

3,873

Total construction value (in millions of dollars)

600

700

700

 

ACTIVITY HISTORY

Fund Number:  10-5510

 

Activity

 

Actual

FY 2005

Actual

FY 2006
Actual

FY 2007

Estimated

FY2008

Budget

FY2009

Personnel Services

 

$2,601,876

$2,754,363

$2,801,612

$3,362,143

$3,804,603

Operations and Maintenance

 

$149,280

$180,661

$194,923

$203,456

$260,537

Capital Outlay

 

0

0

$0

$221,200

$87,700

Total

 

$2,751,156

$2,935,024

$2,996,535

$3,786,799

$4,152,840

Authorized FTEs

38

38

42

50.625

50.625

                                                                                                                                                                                               

SIGNIFICANT BUDGET AND SERVICE LEVEL CHANGES BEYOND CURRENT LEVELS

As a result of a successful pilot program that was implemented last year utilizing 4 lap top computers for field staff, the department will purchase 20 lap top computers this year to equip the remainder of the field inspection staff.