Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Andrews, North Carolina

Town of Andrews’s own rules

• Subdividing landLimited

  Subdivision proposals inside Andrews town limits that are located in Special Flood Hazard Areas.

  • The cited requirement is limited to flood-hazard-area development and does not establish the Town's general subdivision process.

  “All subdivision proposals and other development proposals shall be consistent with the need to minimize flood damage.”

• Building in a floodplainRequired

  Development activities located within Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Andrews town limits.

  • Application must be made to the Floodplain Administrator before development activity; additional submission items and elevation-certification requirements are stated in the ordinance.

  “A Floodplain Development Permit shall be required in conformance with the provisions of this ordinance prior to the commencement of any development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas determined in accordance with the Provisions of Article 3, Section B of this Ordinance.”

• Permit feesPublished (with conditions)

  Town water and sewer tap connections inside Andrews town limits.

  • Larger water taps are billed at prevailing rates and associated connection costs; the schedule distinguishes inside and outside rates.

  inside 3/4-inch water tap: 500 USD · inside 4-inch sewer tap: 750 USD

  “WATER TAP RATES Inside Outside ¾” $500.00 $1,000.00”

• Permit processPartial

  Floodplain development permit applications for development in Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Andrews town limits.

  • Applicant must apply to the Floodplain Administrator before development activity; the official source does not establish a general Town building-permit process.

  “Application for a Floodplain Development Permit shall be made to the Floodplain Administrator prior to any development activities located within Special Flood Hazard Areas.”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Andrews

Town of Andrews does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, or demolition of buildings or structures inside Andrews town limits.

  • Exceptions apply under G.S. 160D-1110(c) and G.S. 160D-1110.1(h).

  “Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and subsection (h) of G.S. 160D-1110.1, no person shall commence or proceed with any of the following without first securing all permits required by the North Carolina State Building Code and any other State or local laws applicable to any of the following activities:”

• Owner-builder exemptionConditional

  An owner seeking a building permit inside Andrews town limits for construction costing $40,000 or more.

  • Applicant must execute a verified affidavit that the applicant owns the property, will personally superintend and manage all construction, and will personally attend required inspections unless plans were drawn and sealed by a licensed architect; the licensing board verifies eligibility.

  project cost threshold: >= 40000 USD

  “If an applicant claims an exemption from licensure pursuant to G.S. 87-1(b)(2), the applicant for the building permit shall execute a verified affidavit attesting to the following:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Building construction inside Andrews town limits, under the North Carolina State Building Code.

  • The cited statute identifies the State Building Code volumes; local permits and applicable local laws may also apply.

  “For the purposes of this Article, "North Carolina State Building Code" or "Code" shall collectively refer to all Code volumes, as revised or amended, prepared and adopted by the Building Code Council or Residential Code Council pursuant to this Article.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a building permit inside Andrews town limits.

  • The inspections are those necessary to satisfy local inspectors that work complies with applicable State and local law and permit terms; owner-builder inspections have the stated owner-presence exception.

  “Subject to the limitation imposed by G.S. 160D-1104(d), as the work pursuant to a building permit progresses, local inspectors shall make as many inspections thereof as may be necessary to satisfy them that the work is being done according to the provisions of any applicable State and local laws and of the terms of the permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New, added-to, enlarged, altered, or moved buildings inside Andrews town limits that are subject to the cited State building-inspection provision.

  • A temporary certificate may be issued for a stated period if the inspector finds the building may safely be occupied before final completion and State Building Code conditions are met.

  “Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, no new building or part thereof may be occupied, no addition or enlargement of an existing building may be occupied, and no existing building that has been altered or moved may be occupied, until the inspection department has issued a certificate of compliance.”

• Who permits septicState (with conditions)

  On-site wastewater systems inside Andrews town limits.

  • The State statutory program requires approvals from the local health department for systems not served by an approved wastewater system; the specific local health department administering an Andrews parcel was not independently confirmed in the reviewed official material.

  “No person shall commence or assist in the installation, construction, or repair of a wastewater system unless an improvement permit and a construction authorization have been obtained from the Department or the local health department unless that person is acting in accordance with the conditions and criteria of an engineered option permit pursuant to G.S. 130A-336.1 or the Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator permit option pursuant to G.S. 130A-336.2.”

• Septic permitRequired

  Construction, installation, or repair of an on-site wastewater system inside Andrews town limits where the property is not served by an approved wastewater system.

  • An engineered option permit or Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator permit option may apply; maintenance does not require an improvement permit or construction authorization.

  “No person shall commence or assist in the installation, construction, or repair of a wastewater system unless an improvement permit and a construction authorization have been obtained from the Department or the local health department unless that person is acting in accordance with the conditions and criteria of an engineered option permit pursuant to G.S. 130A-336.1 or the Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator permit option pursuant to G.S. 130A-336.2.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Wastewater disposal for residences and businesses inside Andrews town limits that are not served by an approved wastewater system.

  • An approved wastewater system is required; construction or installation requires the stated improvement permit and construction authorization unless an authorized alternative permit option applies.

  “A person owning or controlling a residence, place of business or a place of public assembly shall provide an approved wastewater system. Except as may be allowed under another provision of law, all wastewater from water-using fixtures and appliances connected to a water supply source shall discharge to the approved wastewater system.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Andrews or Cherokee County directly.

• Local zoning — Land inside Andrews town limits.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Andrews town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Andrews town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Residential lots inside Andrews town limits.
• Setbacks — Structures inside Andrews town limits outside flood-hazard-specific controls.

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.