H948 - Building Code Regulatory Reform. (SL 2018-29)

Overview: S.L. 2018-29 makes changes to the building inspection procedure for cities and counties and to the inspector licensing requirements to:

• Clarify that cities and counties accept authorized inspections by licensed architects or engineers, or persons they supervise, of building components or elements designed by a licensed architect or engineer.
• Authorize the North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board (Q Board) to establish a marketplace pool of qualified Code-enforcement officials available Statewide for code-enforcement duties.
• Require the Insurance Commissioner to assign marketplace pool inspectors to conduct building inspections when a local inspection department cannot conduct an inspection within two business days of a permit holder's inspection request and authorizes the Commissioner to fix and collect fees for these inspections.
• Authorize cities and counties to enter into mutual aid contracts specifically for North Carolina State Building Code enforcement and administration.
• Require that building framing inspection reports that finding 15 or more violations be submitted to the Department of Insurance, from July 1, 2018 until October 1, 2019.
• Authorize the Q Board to grant a three year provisional certificate to Code-enforcement officials who are certified and in good standing either in another State or by the International Code Council (ICC).
• Define inspector misconduct to include requiring installation of appliances and equipment in a method or manner not required by the State Building Code and contrary to the manufacturer's instructions.

[This act becomes effective October 1, 2018, except as otherwise provided.]