§ 58-79-20.  Inspection of premises; dangerous material removed.

The State Fire Marshal, or the chief of fire department or chief of police where there is no chief of fire department, or the city or county building inspector, electrical inspector, heating inspector, or fire prevention inspector has the right at all reasonable hours, for the purpose of examination, to enter into and upon all buildings and premises in their jurisdiction. When any of such officers find in any building or upon any premises overcrowding in violation of occupancy limits established pursuant to the North Carolina State Building Code, combustible material or inflammable conditions dangerous to the safety of such building or premises they shall order the same to be removed or remedied, and this order shall be forthwith complied with by the owner or occupant of such buildings or premises. The owner or occupant may, within twenty-four hours, appeal to the State Fire Marshal from the order, and the cause of the complaint shall be at once investigated by the State Fire Marshal's direction, and unless by the State Fire Marshal's authority the order of the officer above named is revoked it remains in force and must be forthwith complied with by the owner or occupant. The State Fire Marshal, fire chief, or building inspector, electrical inspector, heating inspector, or fire prevention inspector shall make an immediate investigation as to the presence of combustible material or the existence of inflammable conditions in any building or upon any premises under their jurisdiction upon complaint of any person having an interest in such building or premises or property adjacent thereto. The State Fire Marshal may, in person or by deputy, visit any municipality or county and make such inspections alone or in company with the local officer. The State Fire Marshal shall submit annually, as early as consistent with full and accurate preparation, and not later than the first day of June, a detailed report of the State Fire Marshal's official action under this Article, and it shall be embodied in the report to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government. (1899, c. 58, s. 4; 1901, c. 387, s. 4; 1903, c. 719; Rev., s. 4821; C.S., s. 6077; 1943, c. 170; 1969, c. 1063, s. 3; 1977, c. 596, s. 4; 1985, c. 576, s. 2; 2021-180, s. 37.7(c); 2023-151, s. 11.13.)