Hendersonville waives storm-related permits, extends generator-permit fee waiver and records $3M+ cleanup cost

HENDERSONVILLE — In a series of unanimous votes on Feb. 10 the board approved resolution 2026-04 to waive permit fees for properties damaged in the Jan. 2026 winter storms and added a specific waiver for whole-house generator permits. The board amended the resolution to extend the waiver period through Dec. 31, 2026, to accommodate contractor backlogs.

Alderman Martin, who sponsored the amendment to add generator-permit fee relief, said the change will allow homeowners who install generators because of the storm to capture the fee savings even if installations are delayed by contractor schedules. Director Free confirmed the waiver covers electrical permits for whole-house generators while standard building-code requirements and setback/noise rules still apply.

Public-works and committee reports that evening detailed the city's emergency response and cleanup. Alderman Skidmore reported that the city's storm cleanup effort had removed roughly 21,000 cubic yards of vegetation (about 604 loads to the limb dump so far), addressed more than 1,500 hanging limbs and removed roughly 170 leaning trees; he estimated the city's investment for cleanup to date at "over $3,000,000." City staff said crews deployed salt, plows and grapple/bucket trucks and coordinated closely with contractors to speed debris removal.

Separately, the board authorized an extension of interlocal mutual-aid agreements with two volunteer fire departments to clarify assistance for brush and structure incidents. The agreement passed unanimously.

The combined package—permit fee waivers, extended generator waiver and mutual-aid clarifications—aims to reduce recovery costs for residents and streamline the city's operational response to the ice storm's legacy impacts.