§ 160A-426. Unsafe buildings condemned in localities. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 160A‑426.  Unsafebuildings condemned in localities.

(a)        ResidentialBuilding and Nonresidential Building or Structure. – Every building that shallappear to the inspector to be especially dangerous to life because of itsliability to fire or because of bad condition of walls, overloaded floors,defective construction, decay, unsafe wiring or heating system, inadequatemeans of egress, or other causes, shall be held to be unsafe, and the inspectorshall affix a notice of the dangerous character of the structure to aconspicuous place on the exterior wall of the building.

(b)        NonresidentialBuilding or Structure. – In addition to the authority granted in subsection (a)of this section, an inspector may declare a nonresidential building orstructure within a community development target area to be unsafe if it meetsboth of the following conditions:

(1)        It appears to theinspector to be vacant or abandoned.

(2)        It appears to theinspector to be in such dilapidated condition as to cause or contribute toblight, disease, vagrancy, fire or safety hazard, to be a danger to children,or to tend to attract persons intent on criminal activities or other activitiesthat would constitute a public nuisance.

(c)        If an inspectordeclares a nonresidential building or structure to be unsafe under subsection(b) of this section, the inspector must affix a notice of the unsafe characterof the structure to a conspicuous place on the exterior wall of the building.For the purposes of this section, the term "community development targetarea" means an area that has characteristics of an urban progress zoneunder G.S. 143B‑437.09, a "nonresidential redevelopment area"under G.S. 160A‑503(10), or an area with similar characteristicsdesignated by the city council as being in special need of revitalization forthe benefit and welfare of its citizens.

(d)        A municipality mayexpand subsections (b) and (c) of this section to apply to residentialbuildings by adopting an ordinance. Before adopting such an ordinance, amunicipality shall hold a public hearing and shall provide notice of thehearing at least 10 days in advance of the hearing.  (1905, c. 50‑6, s. 15;Rev., s. 3010; 1915, c. 192, s. 15; C.S., s. 2773; 1929, c. 199, s. 1; 1969, c.1065, s. 1; 1971, c. 698, s. 1; 2000‑164, s. 1; 2001‑386, s. 1;2006‑252, s. 2.19; 2009‑263, s. 2.)