Update from Chapel Hill Devt Services 3.30.20
March 30, 2020
While the Town of Chapel Hill, along with Orange County, has issued a Stay At Home order for residents, most services offered by the Town of Chapel Hill are considered essential. The Building and Development Services Department continues to offer permit, plan review and inspection services. Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic is requiring significant adjustments in order to protect both our clients and our staff. While we are striving to turn around all requests within the established timeframes, we would appreciate your patience when there are delays.
Permit Applications & General Assistance:
All Town facilities including Town Hall has been closed to the public. Staff is working remotely and electronically wherever possible to continue to answer questions, take in applications, review plans, issue permits, and issue COs.
To make this work, we ask that:
At this time, inspections are still being conducted. However, as of March 27, 2020, inspections inside of occupied homes, except for life-safety concerns, will not be conducted. This is effective until further notice.
Permit Applications & General Assistance:
All Town facilities including Town Hall has been closed to the public. Staff is working remotely and electronically wherever possible to continue to answer questions, take in applications, review plans, issue permits, and issue COs.
To make this work, we ask that:
- ALL applications and corrections be emailed to permits@townofchapelhill.org, listing the permit type (Residential or Commercial) and address in the Subject line;
- To pay fees, call Revenue Collections at 919 968-2759 between 10 and 3 daily, Monday through Friday. (Be ready with your credit card information and the permit reference number provided via email by staff);
- To schedule inspections of building & unoccupied homes only, please email your request to permits@townofchapelhill.org, providing all relevant information (permit number, address, specific type of inspections, requested day, contact name and phone #, and any notes that would be helpful to the inspector);
- NOTE: Requests received after 12 pm will be considered as received the next business day. Requests will be processed in the order they are received.
- We are still taking phone calls, but due to the high call volume, use of email is strongly encouraged. We will call you in response to your email when necessary.
- If you need to reach staff, we can be reached at (919) 969-5066 or (919) 968-2718.
- The reviewer's contact information is part of the review comment summary that comes to you by email. Please contact the reviewer directly with questions, responses and resubmittals.
- All plan resubmittals must be accompanied by this completed Plan Review Resubmittal form.
At this time, inspections are still being conducted. However, as of March 27, 2020, inspections inside of occupied homes, except for life-safety concerns, will not be conducted. This is effective until further notice.
- We are still performing inspections within the two-business-day standard. (Note that noon defines which day a scheduling request is considered to have been received.)
- A request to clear an area of all personnel is at the discretion of the inspector when they feel the physical distancing requirements are not being maintained or for other concerns for safety. It is essential that all maintain a 6' plus separation at all times while the inspector is onsite.
- New, unoccupied homes under construction, and construction on the exterior of a home, can be inspected.
- Inspections of occupied residential homes will need to be rescheduled to a later time, after the Order is lifted. Existing permits for interior work in occupied residences will not expire during this period.
- For Zoning inspections, email your requests to zoning@townofchapelhill.org.
- Code Enforcement is still processing complaints, but are prioritizing those with life safety concerns.
- Complaints for occupied homes will not be conducted unless there is a life-safety component.
Contact:
Sheila Stains-Ramp, Development Services Planning Manager, Town of Chapel Hill
sstains-ramp@townofchapelhill.org, 919-969-5072
