Subdivisions

If the applicant is planning to record lots in the subdivision prior to all infrastructure being installed, the applicant must furnish a financial guarantee prior to submitting a draft final plat. The guarantee of improvements and other required documentation shall be submitted to and approved by staff prior to submittal of a draft final plat.

• In order to submit a guarantee of improvements the developer must have completed 25% percent (based on a professional engineer's sealed cost estimate) of infrastructure improvements for the phase of the subdivision for which the guarantee applies.
• All guarantees shall include a signed and sealed document detailing the cost of all communal infrastructure improvements and the continuing maintenance of the site prepared and certified by a licensed civil engineer. The document must include an itemized list of costs and an anticipated construction schedule for all work.
• The guarantee of improvements shall be secured in one of the following forms:
  • A surety bond issued by any company authorized to do business in North Carolina.
  • A letter of credit issued by any financial institution licensed to do business in North Carolina.
  • A bond of the owner/developer by an official bank check drawn in favor of the County and deposited with the County.
  • Other form of guarantee that provides equivalent security to a surety bond or letter of credit (such as an official certified bank check for deposit or a certificate of deposit naming Buncombe County as the beneficiary).
• Please note that Buncombe County will not accept any financial guarantee where collection of said guarantee, if required due to default, cannot be made at a local bank counter.
• Guarantee shall be in the amount equal to 125% percent of the estimate.
• All guarantees of improvements shall contractually stipulate a completion date that is at least 180 days past the expected completion date as stated in the approved construction schedule.
• The owner/developer must submit a signed and sealed statement by a registered civil engineer licensed in North Carolina certifying that all work has been completed to the standards of the Land Disturbance and Subdivision Ordinance before the Planning Department will determine satisfactory completion of all guaranteed work.
• Work not completed within 90 consecutive days following the stipulated completion date will be considered in default. The Planning Department will proceed immediately with a claim against the guarantee of improvements for all work in default.
• Please contact Planning regarding questions about financial guarantees.

Prior to a draft final plat or as-built drawing being submitted for review or a guarantee of improvements being released the applicant must submit a letter certifying that all communal infrastructure has been completed.

• The letter must specifically state that the roads and shared private driveways within the subdivision have been completed and built to Buncombe County Land Development and Subdivision Ordinance standards.
• Documentation must be provided that sewer and water lines are installed and turned over to the appropriate agency, or a letter certifying that those utilities are installed and have been built to the appropriate agencies standards must be submitted.
• Additionally, the letter must also indicate that any shared well and septic systems and/or water have been completed and installed (if the Planning Department has not received verification from the appropriate governmental agency that water and sewer systems have been approved and installed to their specifications).
• The statement must be signed and sealed by a civil engineer licensed in North Carolina. No subdivision road inspection will be scheduled until staff has received and accepted the letter certifying completion of infrastructure.

An as-built drawing must be submitted and approved prior to a final plat being recorded. The requirements for an as-built drawing can be found in Sec. 70-40 of the Subdivision Ordinance.

Prior to a draft final plat being submitted for review or a guarantee of improvements being released, the applicant must schedule a road inspection with the Planning Department. A road inspection must be passed prior to a draft final plat being submitted for review. Please contact Please contact Planning to schedule a road inspection.

After As-Built approval has been granted, the surveyor must submit a draft final plat PDF document through the County’s online permitting portal for review by the Planning department prior to submitting the final plat for signatures. After the draft final plat is approved it can be submitted either through an e-signature service, such as DocuSign, or by delivering a paper copy to the Planning Department.