Cleveland County authorizes removal of burned house at 118 Victoria Road under minimum-housing code

Cleveland County commissioners voted to authorize county staff to remove a severely fire-damaged house at 118 Victoria Road after staff said repair costs exceed the home’s tax value and property owners did not contact county offices.

County planning staff presented the case under the county’s minimum-housing rules and documented notification steps required by the code.

Chris, a Cleveland County planning staff member, told the board the half-acre parcel sits in a neighborhood off Cherryville Highway (Highway 150) between Waco and Shelby and that the structure "has sustained substantial burn damage" and that "the value of the home on the tax records currently is about $2,000," making repairs uneconomical under the county ordinance. He said staff followed the ordinance’s notice requirements, including certified mailings and posting a copy of the removal order on the property. "We have not had contact from the property owners," Chris said.

The staff presentation included a timeline of notices and additional restricted-delivery mailings that staff said were beyond what the ordinance requires. The planner said there are two heirs: one in Lincolnton, where restricted delivery was confirmed, and another who lives across the street for whom staff did not receive certified-mail confirmation but who had the notice posted on the property across from their home.

A commissioner moved to approve the ordinance and authorize staff to remove the structure; another commissioner seconded. Board members noted an RV beside the house and that someone had been seen on the property during staff visits. After brief discussion, the board took a voice vote and approved the motion.

The action authorizes county staff to remove the unsafe structure and clean the property under Cleveland County Code Section 3.5, Article 3. The planner said removal is justified where calculated repair costs exceed the home’s recorded value; he asked the board for authorization to proceed and reported no contact from owners prior to the hearing.

The board’s authorization directs staff to carry out removal and cleanup consistent with the county ordinance; no further timeline or cost estimate for removal was provided at the meeting.

The county will record the action in the minutes and move forward with the removal process under the minimum-housing provision the board invoked.