After public hearing, Lincoln County adopts changes to unsafe‑building and abandoned‑structure rules; county attorney clarifies appeal routes

Lincoln County commissioners held a public hearing and approved amendments to Chapters 91 and 94 of the county code to address unsafe buildings and abandoned structures. County attorney Miss Gilbert explained that the change incorporates statutory language (discussed as North Carolina General Statute 160D‑1119 in the hearing) to allow inspectors to post or condemn residential structures under the unsafe‑building provisions and to pursue judicial remedies where necessary.

The ordinance also revises the abandoned‑structure complaint process to require complainants to have standing—ownership or residence within a defined area—rather than permitting remote third‑party reporters to trigger the abandoned‑structure process. During public comment, one resident (Gunning Hall) urged caution and requested a clear appeal process. Miss Gilbert responded that appeals of stop‑work orders under the unsafe‑building provisions must be filed with the State Fire Marshal’s Office and that abandoned‑structure determinations carry a 30‑day superior‑court appeal under the statute referenced in the hearing.

Following the hearing the board voted to adopt the ordinance as presented; no second reading was required per staff because the action was a public‑hearing adoption of development‑related provisions. The adopted changes add enforcement and procedural clarity, according to staff, and provide spelled‑out appeal routes as described in the hearing.