§ 4-28. Building inspector.

(a)

Office created. There is hereby created in and for the town the office of building inspector.

State Law reference— Authority to create inspection department and appoint inspectors, G.S. § 160A-411.

(b)

Appointment; term. The building inspector shall be appointed by the town manager and shall serve as such inspector until his successor is appointed and qualified.

(c)

Oath; bond. Before entering upon the duties of his office, the building inspector shall take and subscribe an oath which, along with his certificate of appointment, shall be filed in the office of the town manager. The building inspector shall, also, prior to the performance of his duties, file a bond in such sum as may be fixed by the town council, payable to the town, conditioned upon the faithful performance of his duties.

(d)

Conflict of interest. While holding office, the building inspector shall not engage in nor be interested in business as an architect, engineer or builder nor shall he be financially interested in the sale of building material nor shall he accept fees or other compensation for engineering advice or plans and specifications submitted.

State Law reference— Conflicts of interest, G.S. § 160A-415.

(e)

Powers and duties generally. The building inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to enforce all the provisions of this chapter; to take what action may be necessary to remove any conditions which, under the terms of this chapter, shall have been declared to be a nuisance; to make or have made all necessary inspections; to have the right, subject to constitutional limitations, to enter any premises, at reasonable hours, for the purpose of inspection or enforcing this chapter; to keep such records as may be necessary for the efficient maintenance and conduct of his office.

State Law reference— Duties and responsibilities, G.S. § 160A-412.

(f)

Effect of failure to perform duties. No oversight, dereliction or failure to perform his duties on the part of the building inspector shall legalize the violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.

State Law reference— Failure to perform duties, G.S. § 160A-416.

(g)

Appeals from decisions. Whenever the building inspector shall reject or refuse to approve the manner of construction proposed to be followed or the quality and kind of materials to be used in the erection or alteration of any building or structure or when it is claimed that the rules and specifications of this chapter do not apply or that an equally good or more desirable form of construction can be employed in any specific case, the owner of such building or structure or his duly authorized agent may appeal from the decision of the building inspector to the town manager. If the decision by the town manager should not be satisfactory to the claimant, then his next appeal lies with the state insurance commissioner. An appeal may lie only if an amount of one thousand dollars ($1,000.00) or more is involved.

(Code 1967, §§ 9-10—9-15)