May 20, 2009

The Catawba County Board of Commissioners and the Town of Brookford’s Board of Aldermen
have approved a joint agreement through which Catawba County’s Building Services Division will provide a full range of building inspection related services in Brookford. With this agreement, Catawba County is now providing these services across the entire county, including all eight of its cities and towns.

“In early March, 2009, the Town of Brookford contacted Catawba County regarding the provision of building code administration within the Town's jurisdiction”, said Barry B. Edwards, Catawba County’s Utilities and Engineering Director, who oversees Building Services. “On April 27, 2009, the Brookford Town Aldermen approved the inspection agreement between the Town and the County and the Catawba County Board of Commissioners approved it on May 18, 2009. On May 19th, 2009, Catawba County officially began providing inspection services within the municipal boundaries of the Town of Brookford.”

These services include the reviewing of plans, accepting of applications, issuing of permits and performing of all necessary inspections, in accordance with applicable North Carolina State laws and regulations.

Any other services including, but not limited to, zoning enforcement and Town of Brookford ordinances will continue to be enforced by the Town of Brookford.

“During the process of issuing all permits, Catawba County will collect all building, electrical, plumbing, heating, and other applicable fees,” Edwards said. “Citizens of the Town of Brookford may use either of the County's two Permit Centers to obtain these permits. The Permit Centers are located at Hickory City Hall, at 76 North Center Street in Hickory and at the County Government Center located at 100-A Southwest Blvd. (Highway 321 Business) in Newton.

“Catawba County had been providing inspection services to the other municipalities in the county prior to this agreement between the County Government and Brookford,” Edwards concluded. “This collaborative effort is just another example of the cooperation shown historically between Catawba County and its municipalities.”

For more information on Catawba County’s providing building inspections services in the Town of Brookford or the County’s Building Services program in general, you may contact the Catawba County Permit Center at 828-464-8399. First time callers should then press 0 to navigate around an automated system available for persons with ongoing and active inspections, to speak with a Permit Center staff person.