Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Storm Permit Fee Waiver topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Cary waives building permit fees for residents after Aug. 16 storm
Summary
The Village of Cary board unanimously approved an ordinance Sept. 2 waiving building permit fees for properties damaged in the Aug. 16 storm, provided homeowners obtain permits and submit documentation by May 1, 2026; staff estimated the villagewould absorb roughly $30,000 in waived fees.
The Village of Cary Board on Sept. 2 approved an ordinance waiving building permit fees for village properties damaged in the Aug. 16 storm, provided property owners obtain required permits and submit documentation that the damage was storm-related.
The waiver, approved by roll call at the meeting, allows residents to obtain permits for repairs without paying the usual permit fee. Director Simmons told the board that "this would just be to allow individuals that would need to do repairs to their homes that were caused by that storm, to obtain the necessary permits but not have to pay for those improvements." The waiver applies only to repairs permitted through the villagebuilding-permit process.
Why it matters: the measure is intended to reduce a financial barrier for residents making storm repairs while preserving the villageinspection and permitting process. Village staff estimated roughly 100 visible damaged structures from road-side surveys and provided a conservative financial impact estimate of about $30,000 to the village if all those properties applied for waived permits. Staff said the typical permit fee for roof or siding work is about $100 and that the village generally absorbs roughly $80 per permit because the average inspection cost is about $40.
Board discussion focused on inspection capacity, documentation and limits on what the waiver will cover. One resident asked whether the village would have enough inspectors to keep up with post-storm permits; staff replied that the village will use in-house staff and contract third-party consultants for inspections. Director Simmons said applicants will be asked to provide documentation that the damage was storm-related, such as photographs or an insurance claim, before staff-level approval of the fee waiver.
The ordinance includes a deadline for obtaining permits: permits must be applied for by May 1, 2026. Chairman Powell said the village intends to be flexible about "pre-storm conditions" where reasonable, but that certain repairs (for example, rebuilding a collapsed gazebo) may require plans or drawings if structural work is needed. "I think we certainly can be flexible," Powell said, adding that routine repairs such as roof or siding replacement generally do not require structural plans.
Staff also told the board that federal assistance would depend on a state-wide storm-damage threshold. As Director Simmons explained, for the village to receive federal disaster funds the storm event must cause more than $25,000,000 in damage statewide; FEMA personnel were expected to evaluate local damage in the coming days. Staff encouraged residents and businesses to report damage estimates to support any potential state or federal reimbursement.
Outcome and next steps: the board voted to adopt the ordinance. The village will accept permit applications under the waiver through May 1, 2026, require storm-related documentation with applications, and rely on a mix of village staff and contracted inspectors to complete required inspections. Staff will continue coordinating with FEMA and encouraging residents to file damage reports and insurance claims.
