Scheduling an Appointment Time

1. Submit the Express Review Application. This may be faxed, mailed, e-mailed, or hand delivered. If you do not have an Express Review Application, it can be obtained on the website www.meckpermit.com, in our lobby, or by fax. Upon completing the application, be sure to provide the contact person's name(applicant), telephone number, and fax number to make communication easier. The contact person must be completely knowledgeable about the project and be able to make administrative decisions such as scheduling appointments. This is typically the architect or project manager. Accurately describe the proposed work, be complete and specific, and include any specialized design components or features. The more information supplied on the application, the higher the probability for success at the time of review. Failure to accurately describe the project may result in an inability to schedule the project. If you wish, you may contact the Express Review Coordinator at (704) 336-4963 to determine available times NOTE: Available times are given as a courtesy. Actual dates and times will be given when the project is ready to be booked for review.
   
2. After receiving the completed forms, one reviewer from each trade will evaluate the request and will indicate an estimated time needed to complete the review or will request a preliminary review. This decision is based on the information submitted on the application.
   
3. If the project is suitable for Express Review, the Express Review Coordinator will contact the applicant by phone to discuss scheduling either a preliminary review appointment or an Express Review appointment.
   
   NOTE: A preliminary/scope of work review will be scheduled for new construction projects and on upfit projects as the reviewers deem necessary. The preliminary /scope of work review meeting is designed to give the reviewers an opportunity to see the scope of work for the project. It gives the designers an opportunity to discuss any items which may pose a problem at the time of the Express Review. The preliminary reviews are on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons. One complete set of plans is required and designers are encouraged to attend. Plans are not required to be 100% complete, however, they must represent a solid scope of work.
   
   NOTE: A project may be required to be phased in order to meet the goals of the Express Review program.
   Phased construction projects: If a project is separated into phases(footing/foundation, shell, shell w/core, upfit), for the Express Review Program, each phase is a separate project and beginning the process through Express Review does not guarantee that each phase will qualify for Express Review. It is possible that the footing/foundation can be done through Express Review, while the shell or shell w/core will not be able to be done through Express Review.
   
   NOTE: A Final Express Review meeting will not be scheduled until after the preliminary/scope of work review meeting has been held.
   
   NOTE: If it is determined at the preliminary/scope of work review meeting that a project will not fit into the scope of the Express Review Program, the contact person will be informed and it will be necessary for the project to go through OnSchedule Review for permitting.
   
4. If a preliminary review meeting is held, the Express Review appointment will be scheduled at the conclusion of the meeting if the project has been approved for the Express Review program.
   
5. A confirmation fax will be sent to the applicant outlining the scheduled Express Review appointment and any other specific conditions that must be met. It is necessary to sign the confirmation fax and return to the Express Review Coordinator. The written confirmation is in response to the verbal commitment made when booking the Express Review appointment. Failure to sign and send back does not relieve you of the financial responsibilities of the appointment. If a signed confirmation fax is not received from the customer, the appointment date may be given to the next available customer.
   
6. Once the applicant has been notified of the appointment date and time, submittal of an application fee is necessary to hold the appointment time.  The application fee must be remitted within two business days of the confirmation notification.  Failure to receive the application fee shall void the appointment.
   
7. Application fees are non-refundable and are $100.00.  A non-refundable application fee of $100.00 is required to reserve the appointment time.  This non-refundable fee is required to be paid within 2 business days.  This non-refundable fee is to be paid even if the appointment is cancelled.  The application fee will be credited to the express review fee upon completion of the review.  For example, if a $100.00 application fee is paid, and the review is 1 hour at $800.00, the amount due will be $700.00 ($800.00 - $100.00 application fee = $700.00).  If an appointment time is moved by the applicant for any reason, an application feeof $100.00 must be paid prior to a new appointment being established.
   
8. Express Plan Review MAY NOT be used in conjunction with the Regular Permitting system. A project may not be booked for an Express Review and simultaneously placed through the regular permitting system. Once discovery of this is made, the Express Review will be cancelled, and the applicant will be held responsible for payment of fees incurred. Removal from the Express Review program for 1 year may also result.

Time of Express Review

At the time of the Express Review, the applicant shall be completely prepared. This entails the following:

• Arriving at the appropriate appointment time, as indicated on the Express Review Confirmation fax. If a party is not prepared, they will be asked to reschedule the appointment and be required to pay for the lost appointment time. A grace period of no more than 15 minutes will be allowed.
• Having the specified numer of complete sets of plans assembled(stapled), sealed, and ready for review. Seals may be blueline copied. Minimum size of plans is 18" x 24".
• The individual project designers whose professional seals are on the project (engineer, architect, landscape architect, sprinkler designer, etc.) shall be in attendance. This requirement is to meet the legal requirements for the minor "red-lining" of plans when necessary. NOTE: If a seal holder is unable to attend, another seal holder in the same firm may fill in, but they must bring their own seal to seal any changes made to the plans. Owners are encouraged to attend but are not required to be present.
• A completed Building Permit Application. A Building Permit can not be issued if the Building Permit Application is not complete. If a project is located in a jurisdiction which oversees zoning, zoning sign off from that jurisdiction must be obtained on the Building Permit Application.

Failure to comply with the following requirements will result in immediate rejection without review and the applicant will be charged the amount of time scheduled for the appointment.

• Not having the correct number of complete, properly bound, sealed plan sets, layers not printed, or improperly bound sets.
• Not having the designers of record or acceptable replacement present.
• Arriving late for the scheduled appointment.
• Not having the required Letter of Submission if the project in the jurisdiction of the Town of Huntersville
• Scope of work on plans is different from the scope of work described on the Express Review Application.

PLEASE BE PREPARED AND ON TIME.

Plans should rarely be denied if all requested information is submitted as required. However, if Express Plan Review results in a rejected set of plans, then permits cannot be issued until all outstanding issues have been resolved. If plans are denied, the applicant may opt to be re-reviewed at another express review time or may elect to submit the plans into the standard department process, which would then have standard processing review times and fees for completion. (Generally 5 working days for revisions.)

Designers/Contractors continually unprepared for Express Review appointments may be eliminated from the Express Review process.

Permit Issuance

Permits will be issued within 2 business days of plan approval. Permits can not be issued if the Building Permit Application is not complete, if there are outstanding problems with agencies other than Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement, if the Express Review Fees have not been paid, or if named contractors are not licensed in the State of North Carolina or do not hold a current Surety Bond with our department. Please remember it is the customer's responsibility to have all approvals needed for permit issuance. These include, but are not limited to, City Engineering, County Land Development, Environmental Health, Pools, Air Quality, etc.

Fees

Begininng January 1, 2009, Express Review Fees must be paid at the conclusion of the Express Review appointment. Beginning March 1, 2009, the permit fees must be paid at the conclusion of the Express Review appointment as well.  Failure to remit funds to Code Enforcement for Express Review will result in a discontinuance of all future services of the Department until the fees are paid. Fees may be paid by check, bond, or credit card(Mastercard/Visa/Discover). A bond  account may need to be set up with the Revenue Collection department prior to the Express Review appointment. Please contact the Express Review Coordinator with any questions regarding this matter.

Checks should be made payable to Mecklenburg County

Plans

Beginning January 1, 2009, approved and disapproved plans for which a permit has not yet been issued will only be held for 30 days. After 30 days the plans may be destroyed.  Any approved plans older than 120 days will be considered abandoned and will be destroyed if unclaimed.  Fees will be retained by Mecklenburg County per the Abondoned Plans Policy.