Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Housing Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Burke County extends compliance deadline, rescinds vacate order if renovations finish by March 31, 2026
Summary
The Burke County Board of Commissioners voted 4–0 on Nov. 17, 2025 to accept evidence of progress on a multi‑unit property, extend the compliance deadline to March 31, 2026 and rescind a prior order to vacate if renovations are completed before that date.
Burke County commissioners voted unanimously Nov. 17 to extend the compliance deadline for a multi‑unit property and to rescind a previous order to vacate if the building is brought up to code before March 31, 2026.
Kenneth Green, the county’s chief building inspector, told the board he visited the site on Nov. 12 and prepared a report with photos that were entered into evidence. "The first four units were about 99% complete," Green said, noting each of those units had new 100‑amp electrical service, new bathroom fixtures and hot water heaters, kitchen provisions and heat units. Green added that some work remains and that the county is awaiting power connection before residents can be moved back in.
Contractor Kurt Abey, who is overseeing the renovations, told the board the building permit was issued Oct. 9 and that most of the work reported has been done since then. Abey asked the board for additional time, saying, "If we could extend to March 31, that's probably more than enough time that we would need." He said his original goal had been to finish by Christmas but that scheduling, permit timing and temporary resident relocations made March 31 a more practical target.
Commissioner Berry moved to accept the evidence as demonstrating reasonable progress toward compliance with the board's April 10, 2025 order and to amend the order to vacate, extending the compliance deadline to March 31, 2026. "Upon completion of renovations, bringing the building into compliance with applicable local and state laws by the aforementioned deadline, the order to vacate is hereby rescinded, null and void, and no additional hearings are required," Berry said. The motion passed 4–0.
The board clarified that if the work is completed before March 31, building officials will confirm compliance and no additional hearing will be necessary. Commissioners also emphasized avoiding displacing residents into winter weather while renovations continue.
Next steps: county building officials will monitor completion and confirm whether the property meets code; the order to vacate will be rescinded upon verification of compliance. The board did not set additional conditions in the motion and did not require further hearings if the property reaches compliance earlier than the March deadline.
Details not specified in the hearing: timeline for power connection, any additional permits or inspections still outstanding besides the general building permit, and the identities of affected residents; those items were not addressed in the evidence presented.
