Buncombe County Administration Services

County Legal

The County Attorney is the attorney for Buncombe County Government. This office handles all the legal issues facing the County as well as drafting ordinances, leases, deeds, rights of way and any other legal matters.

Joe A. Connolly is the County Attorney and serves as the principal legal advisor to the Board of Commissioners. Mr. Connolly is a partner in the firm of Westall, Gray and Connolly at 81 Central Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801, and is on retainer with the County. Although he maintains an office in the Legal Department’s spaces, Mr. Connolly can be reached more easily at his law firm. (828) 254-6315. Facsimile (828) 255-0305.

Hours of Operation:

The Legal Department endeavors to maintain hours of operations Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 5:00pm, which is the same as most County departments other than those which are required to maintain round the clock operations due to emergency type functions.

It is impossible, however, to always maintain this schedule since the attorneys are frequently required to be out of the office for court appearances, conferences, depositions, and various tasks which require their presence elsewhere. Therefore, voice mail is available and calls are returned promptly.

Functions:

The Legal Department advises and represents the County in all legal matters except in situations where certain County departments have their own counsel and unusual situations where it is determined to be in the best interest of the County to retain outside counsel.

The department’s work typically includes, but is by no means limited to, real property condemnation, land use regulation, property taxes, tort claims both by and against the County, environmental litigation, and employment matters.

The department does not represent nor give legal advise to citizens about private disputes or problems, but will endeavor to provide information and assistance in response to citizen inquiries concerning County ordinances or matters in which the County is a party or in some way directly involved.