Franklin BOC to Ease Permit and Inspection Process for Residential Builds

Franklin County Commissioners have thrown out a plan to suspend the current method of applying for building permits and inspections for residential construction in favor of making some changes to the current method.

The changes are primarily targeted at residential home builders.

At their work session Tuesday, Commission Chair Jeff Jacques outlined three changes to the current ordinance he believes will help ease the process.

The first applies to someone building their own home.

“If you’re going to build a house for yourself and this is going to be your primary residence and you’re not building it to be sold, you will have the option to come in and sign a waiver. Basically, you would be accepting all responsibility for the construction of that home. You will adhere to all current building codes, standards, fire protection rules, etc. You will have that document recorded at the courthouse and it will remain with the property,” Jacques explained.

Jacques added that the builder will have to have one setback inspection and sign for a permit.

The second change he said involves third-party inspections.

“If somebody comes in and is building a house for themselves or a subdivision they will have the option to be able to go through the current process and use the county-approved inspector of record,” he said. “You will also have an option to utilize a third-party inspector that could be included in a list that we will compile.  And also, if there is another licensed-approved inspector that can provide all of the needed documentation, then that can be submitted for review and potential approval.”

The third item, Jacques said has to do with accessory building inspections.

“Currently, there have been inspections required for accessory buildings that will require plumbing or electric. We are going to remove that requirement. The only requirement for accessory buildings will be a setback inspection, which again is not part and parcel of this but is part of the planning and zoning and is required. So, this does not include somebody who is going to build a shed or a barn. This is for somebody who is building an equipment shed or a storage shed down behind their house where now they have to go through the permit process and the trade inspections, we’re eliminating that,” Jacques said.

Jacques prefaced the changes stating after consulting with County Attorney Bubba Samuels and County Manager Derrick Turner, it was not feasible to have a suspension of new permits and applications while asking current pending permits and inspections to go through the current process.

Commissioners said afterward they agreed with the new plan.

And Commissioner Robert Franklin added that the proposed changes are an indication of the Board’s commitment to serving the citizens of Franklin County.

Jacques said the changes will be published in the local newspaper and will be available for public review in the coming days.

He added a public hearing will also be held sometime this month before the Board officially votes on the changes, which he said will likely be in April.