Emergency Permitting
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Do I need a permit for work to mitigate damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene?
Yes, permits are required to mitigate damage caused by a natural disaster, including work to stabilize the building, ensure safe occupancy, and restore to pre-storm condition. Buncombe County aims to process and issue emergency permits within one business day of application submittal.
An emergency repair permit is needed for any building damage, below is the link to the form. It can be submitted online or brought into our office.
Completed forms can also be brought to our office at
- 30 Valley St
- Asheville, NC 28801
- Monday-Friday | 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Trade permits
If the damage was only electrical, plumbing, heating/cooling equipment
Trade permits need to be obtained by the NC Licensed contractor through our online portal
https://aca-prod.accela.com/buncombeconc/default.aspx
2. Why is emergency permitting important?
Emergency permitting after a natural disaster is critical for:
- Tracking the magnitude of damage
- FEMA reporting
- Home and business owners' insurance claims
- County tax records
3. What is the cost of emergency permits to mitigate damage caused by Tropical Storm Helene?
Permits fees have been waived for emergency repair permits.
4. Do I need a General Contractor?
Any construction project where the total cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more requires a NC Licensed General Contractor.
5. What is the typical scope of work for this type of emergency permit?
Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Temporary roof repairs with plywood or plastic sheeting to make structures habitable or to prevent continuing damage due to rain and wind to buildings and exteriors;
- Covering exterior wall and window openings with plywood or plastic sheeting;
- Repairs to interior ceilings to make buildings habitable or to drain accumulated flood waters;
- Repairs to steps and railings (Remounting or Replacing requires a permit).
- Replacing window panes only;
- Temporary stabilization measures to avoid imminent building or structure collapse (Permit and inspection required if occupied);
- Removal & replacement of flooring;
- Removal & replacement of cabinets
- Removal and replacement of storm damaged drywall
- Removal and replacement of storm damaged insulation
- Removal and replacement of storm damaged electrical wiring, fixtures, and components
- Removal and replacement of storm-damaged mechanical systems
6. To what degree can structures in the floodplain be repaired?
The construction value of the TS Helene emergency permits to remove and replace storm-damaged materials in the special flood hazard area (SFHA) must not substantially improve the structure.
Substantial Improvement is defined as any combination of repairs, reconstruction, rehabilitation, addition, or other improvement of a structure for which the cost equals or exceeds 50% of the structure's market value before the construction of the improvement.
Substantial Damage means damage of any origin sustained by a structure whereby the cost of restoring the structure to its before-damaged condition would equal or exceed 50% of the market value of the structure before the damage occurred. These costs are cumulative and tracked over a continuous one-year period, from CO/CC.
GIS link to identify if your property is within the floodplain or floodway
https://gis.buncombecounty.org/buncomap/
See the link below for more information
https://www.buncombecounty.org/governing/depts/planning/default.aspx
More information on inspections:
When performing damage assessments, the goals are to determine safety, evaluate the structural aspects and any non-structural risks, and rate the damage of the building. Once these factors are determined by the building inspector, a placard is placed on the building. A yellow placed alerts that the structure has damage, and entry is identified on the placard as to where people can and cannot go within the structure. Yellow may also indicate that a person can enter only for retrieval of personal items. A red placard illustrates that the inspector has determined there are serious issues such as structural or electrical damage and the building should not be occupied. Those with questions about the placards can call the office at 828-250-5360.
Visit buncombecounty.org/permits to learn more about the permitting process or call 828-250-5360.