The COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) pandemic is a fluid situation, and the guidance from authorities is changing rapidly. The team at Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement remains committed to the health and safety of our customers and staff. This page provides a comprehensive listing of modifications made by Code Enforcement in an effort to serve our customers in this uncertain time.
Updates in Your Inbox
Each time we further modify our service delivery, we will send out an email update. If you'd like to receive these and other Code Enforcement updates in your inbox, please subscribe to Code Enforcement email updates by clicking the banner below. (Choose the categories that best apply to you; all Code Enforcement subscribers will receive important updates like these.)
COVID-19 Updates from Code Enforcement
Updates
As of July 1, Mecklenburg County LUESA will resume most in-person services in accordance with state and county mandates. Mecklenburg County services have been operating at a limited capacity or providing virtual services since March 18, 2020, due to COVID-19.
For LUESA Code Enforcement, this means that in-person customer service will resume in the Customer Service Center lobby, including Code Information & Resource Center, Revenue Collections and City of Charlotte Zoning services.
For now, preliminary, express plan review and other customer meetings will continue to be held virtually unless an in-person meeting is requested by either Code Enforcement or the customer. The July 20th Building Development Commission meeting will be held at Suttle Avenue, but will incorporate both in-person and virtual attendance. Code Academy meetings will continue to be held virtually at this time.
Code Enforcement staff are transitioning back to the office, with some staff in the field, some in the office, and some working remotely. We are proud to continue to maintain service to our customers during this transition.
Measures have been put in place to ensure the safety of customers and employees visiting County facilities including the following:
- Non-fully vaccinated customers and employees should wear a face covering inside County facilities at all times and maintain social distance;
- Physical modifications in customer service areas, such as acrylic shields on service counters are in place for customer and employee safety;
- Common areas, restrooms and high-touch points will continue to be cleaned daily using cleaning disinfectants.
We are looking forward to greeting you at our offices again beginning July 1. Thank you for your patience. We are delighted to partner with our customers to build a safe and thriving Mecklenburg County.
Under the governor’s Executive Order 181, effective December 11 at 5:00 pm, MCCE will continue inspections of occupied residences and commercial structures. However, Code Enforcement staff will continue to conduct field inspections using modified processes to minimize the spread of COVID-19.
Notice to Permit Holders:
NCGS SL 2020-3, also known as SB 704 or the COVID-19 Recovery Act, extended the expiration date of a number of permits earlier this year. Permits that were valid during the period of March 10 and April 28, 2020, were extended five months.
On September 28, 2020, any permits set to expire between March 10 and September 28 will expire as this provision sunsets. Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement staff strongly encourages customers to take necessary measures to address any permits that will be expiring to avoid having these expirations reflected on the contractor or homeowner’s record.
To address permits that have expired or are due to expire soon, please contact the Code Enforcement Customer Service Center at 980-314-CODE(2633), option 1.
While Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement is continuing to issue special events permits, and the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal's office continues to issue permits, it is critical that all customers remember that the COVID-related restrictions of Governor Cooper's executive orders, particularly Order 141 and Order 147, remain in effect. As the situation is fluid, additional executive orders may be forthcoming at any time.
The most recent order places various restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, including, but not limited to, mass gatherings of no more than 25 people, wearing face coverings, and observing social distancing. These requirements are subject to change.
Permits issued by Mecklenburg County should not be construed as sanctioning the event or attesting to compliance with other rules or requirements outside the scope of the permit. Permit recipients are responsible for ensuring that events are in compliance with all state and local requirements.
We have updated our Live Remote Inspections Customer Guidelines to reflect new best practices as the situation changes.
We have also assembled guidance for restaurateurs who are reopening and may wish to add or increase outdoor dining space using a tent. Customers should consult our Temporary Assembly Guidance and Workflows, which will walk customers through the process of obtaining the proper permits, when required.
At this time, our Suttle Avenue office will remain closed to the public and we will continue to deliver our services as we have been since the stay-at-home order went into effect. In the near future, we will be making some changes and improvements in our lobby to allow customers and staff to interact safely and with minimal risk of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus. We look forward to reopening our lobby to our customers at a later date.
As always, we will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for being our valued customer.
At 5 p.m. today, we anticipate the governor of North Carolina will loosen some of the restrictions on his stay-at-home order.
With hard work and your partnership we have managed to effectively serve our customers with our inspectors making modifications in the field and most office staff working remotely. We are grateful for your flexibility and dedication.
At this time, our Suttle Avenue office will remain closed to the public and we will continue to deliver our services as we have been since the stay-at-home order went into effect. In the near future, we will be making some changes and improvements in our lobby to allow customers and staff to interact safely and with minimal risk of community transmission of the COVID-19 virus. We look forward to reopening our lobby to our customers at a later date.
As always, we will continue to keep you updated. Thank you for being our valued customer.
At 5 p.m. Monday, April 13, N.C. Governor Roy Cooper’s Executive Order 131 takes effect. Among other measures, Executive Order 131 imposes additional restrictions on essential businesses still operating under Executive Order 121.
To further promote social distancing, businesses and retail establishments will be directed to facilitate greater distances between individuals in their facilities in the following ways:
- Reduce capacity to 20% of stated capacity, OR
- Establish a limit of 5 customers per every 1,000 square feet of space, including non-customer facing portions.
For guidance on how to properly implement these new measures, business owners and managers should contact the fire marshal’s office with jurisdiction. Facilities inside the Charlotte city limits should contact the City of Charlotte Fire Marshal. Facilities outside the Charlotte city limits should contact the Mecklenburg County Fire Marshal at 980-314-3070 or [email protected].
Effective 8 a.m. March 26, Mecklenburg County will be under a stay-at-home order. Code Enforcement staff will continue to conduct permitting, plan review and field inspections as allowed by that order.
As we have been for the last several weeks, we are continuing to make modifications to the ways we deliver our services to protect our customers, staff and community. Among the newest of those modifications are physical distancing during field inspections, and, when possible, the use of Live Remote Inspections (inspections performed using "video chat" technology). While LRIs will be used on many types of projects, effective March 26, 2020, inspections on occupied homes, duplexes, townhouses, apartment units and condo units will be by LRI only to reduce exposure and the risk of transmitting COVID-19. When an LRI cannot be performed or completed, a traditional (in-person) inspection will be coordinated for a later date in consultation with the contractor and the resident.
- More about Google Duo, the app used for LRIs
- Google Duo Quick-Start Guide (for ioS devices)
Inspectors are also continuing to practice physical distancing on job sites. In areas where it is not possible to maintain 6 feet of distance, the inspector may ask for the work area to be inspected to be cleared while he or she conducts the inspection.
- Read our Inspections COVID-19 Interim Policy.
- We have provided more guidance on Live Remote Inspections and physical distancing for inspections customers here.
- Our building is still closed to the public, but our customer service center remains available to customers via phone and email.
- Plan review is still being conducted and meetings with customers are being held via video, but effective March 25, no new Express Reviews are being scheduled. Express Reviews that have already been scheduled will proceed as planned..
- The County Fire Marshal’s office will continue conducting inspections and investigations- but will take precautionary measures, as appropriate. Inspections at facilities with populations vulnerable to COVID-19 will be modified on a case-by-case basis for the protection of all involved.
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement staff are still serving you. We're proud to be your partners in building a safe and thriving community.
Effective Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Code Enforcement’s Suttle Avenue offices will be closed to the public, in accordance with guidance and requirements from government and public health authorities to reduce the spread of COVID-19. While being accessible to our customers and the community is one of our core values, we believe these steps to be necessary to protect our customers, staff and community.
Our building may be closed, but make no mistake –- Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement is open for business. Our dedication to serving our customers and being a partner in building a thriving community has not wavered. Here’s how we’re continuing to serve you under these extraordinary circumstances:
- Our customer service staff continue to be available to help our customers navigate our services by phone and via email.
- Plan review will continue to be conducted electronically. While some staff will be working remotely to further reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19, all staff will be reachable by phone and email. Preliminary and other meetings cannot be conducted in person – staff will contact customers with scheduled meetings to make arrangements for a virtual or “video chat” meeting.
- Permitting will continue with very little change for customers.
- Field inspections will continue, with some slight modifications made to accommodate social distancing on the job site. Residential inspections for occupied homes that cannot occur due to illness or concern on the part of the homeowner or inspector will be rescheduled (and documented in the contractor’s dashboard as a no-fault failure). Third-party inspections cannot be conducted without a contract and pre-agreement, as is our normal procedure.
- The County Fire Marshal’s office will continue conducting inspections and investigations- but will take precautionary measures, as appropriate. Inspections at facilities with populations vulnerable to COVID-19 will be modified on a case-by-case basis for the protection of all involved.
Nearly all of our services can be accessed online. Links to all of our customer portals , staff contact information and other customer resources are listed on MeckPermit.com.
At this time, we do not know how long we may operate under these circumstances. We will update you regularly.
Thank you for your patience. We are committed to continuing to serve you well.
The Building Development Commission meeting scheduled for Tuesday, March 17 has been canceled in accordance with guidance offered by the governor of North Carolina and public health authorities on large meetings.
In light of concerns surrounding COVID-19 (novel coronavirus), Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement will suspend large group meetings effective immediately, through the end of April.
The following meetings are canceled at this time:
- March and April Plumbing Code Academy (formerly known as consistency meetings)
- March and April Mechanical Code Academy
- April Residential Building Code Academy
- April Commercial Code Academy
- April Electrical Code Academy
Preliminary meetings remain scheduled at this time -- only large meetings have been suspended.
This measure is being taken to ensure that we are doing our part in minimizing the spread of COVID-19, and in accordance with the guidance offered by the governor of North Carolina and public health authorities.