And I thought New York was over regulated!
I had to provide blue prints of the upstairs from an engineering firm (even though I'm not altering anything), an explanation of a 10 question survey mostly regarding environmental impact, traffic, use of public utilites, etc.
Cough up a $150.00 plus the above mentioned costs to obtain these documents so that it could go before the Town Board for what they call here a "special use" permit.
After I get the required interlocking smoke and CO2 detectors I will have an inspection for the "certificate of occupancy" which consists of documentation and the board of health coming through. They will check the septic system to be sure it can handle the "increased" demand and make sure that I have the required 5.6 square foot windows in the bedrooms to be used as an emergency egress. Also, fire ladders in each bedroom. That's National Fire Code. Was rather dumbfounded by the room that had no windows because that is totally illegal as sleeping quarters. According to National Code you must have 2 ingress/egress for each room that is a bedroom.
Since I am not going to provide a fresh egg based breakfast I can avoid the additional inspections and $250. or so cost for that license yearly. It may be more but that is what the Board of Health suggested to me last spring. From what I gather I just have to pay $150. a year for the health board inspection for the other items for their inspection and re-certification.
I found it rather ironic that I was zoned single family residential since my home has been a 3 family multiple dwelling as long as I recall. I just remember my grandparents talking about it when it was a single family. Also kind of weird because I am completely surrounded by a golfcourse which is zoned commercial. I don't want to go there, taxes are sky high for that zoning. Also, maybe 500 yards or so away there is farm land which is zoned agricultural. Go figure.
I was told I was "grandfathered" into the regulation because I was already exisiting. They don't have that clause in North Carolina?.