Town of Blowing Rock Required Permits |

Operational Permits

Aerosol products An operational permit is required to manufacture, store or handle an aggregate quantity of Level 2 or Level 3 aerosol products in excess of 500 pounds (227 kg) net weight.

Amusement buildings An operational permit is required to operate a special amusement building.

Aviation facilities An operational permit is required to use a Group H or Group S occupancy for aircraft servicing or repair and aircraft fuel-servicing vehicles.

Carnivals and fairs An operational permit is required to conduct a carnival or fair.

Cellulose nitrate film An operational permit is required to store, handle or use cellulose nitrate film in a Group A occupancy.

Combustible dust-producing operations An operational permit is required to operate a grain elevator, flour starch mill, feed mill, or a plant pulverizing aluminum, coal, cocoa, magnesium, spices or sugar, or other operations producing combustible dusts as defined in Chapter 2.

Combustible fibers An operational permit is required for the storage and handling of combustible fibers in quantities greater than 100 cubic feet (2.8 m3).
Exception: A permit is not required for agricultural storage.

Compressed gases An operational permit is required for the storage, use or handling at normal temperature and pressure (NTP) of compressed gases in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.6.8.
Exception: Vehicles equipped for and using compressed gas as a fuel for propelling the vehicle

Covered mall buildings An operational permit is required for:

The placement of retail fixtures and displays, concession equipment, displays of highly combustible goods and similar items in the mall.
The display of liquid- or gas-fired equipment in the mall.
The use of open-flame or flame-producing equipment in the mall.

Cryogenic fluids An operational permit is required to produce, store, transport on site, use, handle or dispense cryogenic fluids in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.6.10.
Exception: Permits are not required for vehicles equipped for and using cryogenic fluids as a fuel for propelling the vehicle or for refrigerating the lading.

Cutting and welding An operational permit is required to conduct cutting or welding operations within the jurisdiction.

Dry cleaning plants An operational permit is required to engage in the business of dry cleaning or to change to a more hazardous cleaning solvent used in existing dry cleaning equipment.

Exhibits and trade shows An operational permit is required to operate exhibits and trade shows.

Explosives An operational permit is required for the manufacture, storage, handling, sale or use of any quantity of explosives, explosive materials, fireworks or pyrotechnic special effects within the scope of Chapter 33.
Exceptions:

Storage in Group R-3 occupancies of smokeless propellant, black powder and small arms primers for personal use, not for resale and in accordance with Section 3306.
Fireworks allowed by North Carolina General Statute 14-414.

Fire hydrants and valves An operational permit is required to use or operate fire hydrants or valves intended for fire suppression purposes which are installed on water systems and accessible to a fire apparatus access road that is open to or generally used by the public.
Exception: A permit is not required for authorized employees of the water company that supplies the system or the fire department to use or operate fire hydrants or valves.

Flammable and combustible liquids An operational permit is required:

To use or operate a pipeline for the transportation within facilities of flammable or combustible liquids. This requirement shall not apply to the off-site transportation in pipelines regulated by the Department of Transportation (DOT) nor does it apply to piping systems.
To store, handle or use Class I liquids in excess of 5 gallons (19 L) in a building or in excess of 10 gallons (37.9 L) outside of a building, except that a permit is not required for the following:
1. The storage or use of Class I liquids in the fuel tank of a motor vehicle, aircraft, motorboat, mobile power plant or mobile heating plant, unless such storage, in the opinion of the code official, would cause an unsafe condition.
2. The storage or use of paints, oils, varnishes or similar flammable mixtures when such liquids are stored for maintenance, painting or similar purposes for a period of not more than 30 days.
To store, handle or use Class II or Class IIIA liquids in excess of 25 gallons (95 L) in a building or in excess of 60 gallons (227 L) outside a building, except for fuel oil used in connection with oil-burning equipment.
To remove Class I or Class II liquids from an underground storage tank used for fueling motor vehicles by any means other than the approved, stationary on-site pumps normally used for dispensing purposes.
To operate tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries and similar facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are produced, processed, transported, stored, dispensed or used.
To place temporarily out of service (for more than 90 days) an underground, protected above-ground or above-ground flammable or combustible liquid tank.
To change the type of contents stored in a flammable or combustible liquid tank to a material which poses a greater hazard than that for which the tank was designed and constructed.
To manufacture, process, blend or refine flammable or combustible liquids.
To engage in the dispensing of liquid fuels into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles at commercial, industrial, governmental or manufacturing establishments.
To utilize a site for the dispensing of liquid fuels from tank vehicles into the fuel tanks of motor vehicles at commercial, industrial, governmental or manufacturing establishments.

Floor finishing An operational permit is required for floor finishing or surfacing operations exceeding 350 square feet (33 m2) using Class I or Class II liquids.

Fruit and crop ripening An operational permit is required to operate a fruit-, or crop-ripening facility or conduct a fruit-ripening process using ethylene gas.

Fumigation and thermal insecticidal fogging An operational permit is required to operate a business of fumigation or thermal insecticidal fog-ging and to maintain a room, vault or chamber in which a toxic or flammable fumigant is used.

Hazardous materials An operational permit is required to store, transport on site, dispense, use or handle hazardous materials in excess of the amounts listed in Table 105.6.20.

HPM facilities An operational permit is required to store, handle or use hazardous production materials.

High-piled storage An operational permit is required to use a building or portion thereof as a high-piled storage area exceeding 500 square feet (46m2).

Hot work operations An operational permit is required for hot work including, but not limited to:

Public exhibitions and demonstrations where hot work is conducted.
Use of portable hot work equipment inside a structure.
Exception: Work that is conducted under a construction permit.
Fixed-site hot work equipment such as welding booths.
Hot work conducted within a hazardous fire area.
Application of roof coverings with the use of an open-flame device.
When approved, the fire code official shall issue a permit to carry out a Hot Work Program. This program allows approved personnel to regulate their facility’s hot work operations. The approved personnel shall be trained in the fire safety aspects denoted in this chapter and shall be responsible for issuing permits requiring compliance with the requirements found in Chapter 26. These permits shall be issued only to their employees or hot work operations under their supervision.

Industrial ovens An operational permit is required for operation of industrial ovens regulated by Chapter 21.

Lumber yards and woodworking plants An operational permit is required for the storage or processing of lumber exceeding 100,000 board feet (8,333 ft3) (236 m3).

Liquid- or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings An operational permit is required to display, operate or demonstrate liquid or gas-fueled vehicles or equipment in assembly buildings.

LP-gas A permit may be required and issued by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture for LP-gas Equipment used for storage, handling, transporting and utilizing liquefied petroleum gas for fuel purposes.

Magnesium An operational permit is required to melt, cast, heat treat or grind more than 10 pounds (4.54 kg) of magnesium.

Miscellaneous combustible storage An operational permit is required to store in any building or upon any premises in excess of 2,500 cubic feet (71 m3) gross volume of combustible empty packing cases, boxes, barrels or similar containers, rubber tires, rubber, cork or similar combustible material.

Open burning An operational permit is required for the kindling or maintaining of an open fire or a fire on any public street, alley, road, or other public or private ground. Instructions and stipulations of the permit shall be adhered to.
Exception: Recreational fires.

Open flames and torches An operational permit is required to remove paint with a torch; or to use a torch or open-flame device in a hazardous fire area.

Open flames and candles An operational permit is required to use open flames or candles in connection with assembly areas, dining areas of restaurants or drinking establishments.

Organic coatings An operational permit is required for any organic-coating manufacturing operation producing more than 1 gallon (4 L) of an organic coating in one day.

Places of assembly An operational permit is required to operate a place of assembly.

Private fire hydrants An operational permit is required for the removal from service, use or operation of private fire hydrants.
Exception: A permit is not required for private industry with trained maintenance personnel, private fire brigade or fire departments to maintain, test and use private hydrants.

Pyrotechnic special effects material An operational permit is required for use and handling of pyrotechnic special effects material.

Pyroxylin plastics An operational permit is required for storage or handling of more than 25 pounds (11 kg) of cellulose nitrate (pyroxylin) plastics and for the assembly or manufacture of articles involving pyroxylin plastics.

Refrigeration equipment An operational permit is required to operate a mechanical refrigeration unit or system regulated by Chapter 6.

Repair garages and motor fuel-dispensing facilities An operational permit is required for operation of repair garages and automotive, marine and fleet motor fuel-dispensing facilities.

Rooftop heliports An operational permit is required for the operation of a rooftop heliport.

Spraying or dipping An operational permit is required to conduct a spraying or dipping operation utilizing flammable or combustible liquids or the application of combustible powders regulated by Chapter 15.

Storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts An operational permit is required to establish, conduct or maintain storage of scrap tires and tire byproducts that exceeds 2,500 cubic feet (71 m3) of total volume of scrap tires and for indoor storage of tires and tire byproducts.

Temporary membrane structures, tents and canopies An operational permit is required to operate an air-supported temporary membrane structure or a tent having an area in excess of 200 square feet (19 m2), or a canopy in excess of 400 square feet (37 m2).
Exceptions:

Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
Fabric canopies open on all sides which comply with all of the following:
1. Individual canopies having a maximum size of 700 square feet (65 m2).
2. The aggregate area of multiple canopies placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than 12 feet (3658mm) shall not exceed 700 square feet (65m2) total.
3. A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658mm) to structures and other tents shall be provided.

Tire-rebuilding plants An operational permit is required for the operation and maintenance of a tire-rebuilding plant.

Waste handling An operational permit is required for the operation of wrecking yards, junk yards and waste material-handling facilities.

Wood products An operational permit is required to store chips, hogged material, lumber or plywood in excess of 200 cubic feet (6 m3).

Construction Permits

Automatic fire-extinguishing systems A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to an automatic fire-extinguishing system. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and does not require a permit.

Battery systems A permit is required to install stationary storage battery systems having a liquid capacity of more than 50 gallons (189 L).

Compressed gases. When the compressed gases in use or storage exceed the amounts listed in Table 105.6.8, A construction permit is required to install, repair damage to, abandon, remove, place temporarily out of service, or close or substantially modify a compressed gas system.
Exceptions:

Routine maintenance.
For emergency repair work performed on an emergency basis, application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work. The permit applicant shall apply for approval to close storage, use or handling facilities at least 30 days prior to the termination of the storage, use or handling of compressed or liquefied gases. Such application shall include any change or alteration of the facility closure plan filed pursuant to Section 2701.6.3. The 30-day period is not applicable when approved based on special circumstances requiring such waiver.

Fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to fire alarm and detection systems and related equipment. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and does not require a permit.

Fire pumps and related equipment A construction permit is required for installation of or modification to fire pumps and related fuel tanks, jockey pumps, controllers, and generators. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and does not require a permit.

Flammable and combustible liquids A construction permit is required:

To repair or modify a pipeline for the transportation of flammable or combustible liquids.
To install, construct or alter tank vehicles, equipment, tanks, plants, terminals, wells, fuel-dispensing stations, refineries, distilleries and similar facilities where flammable and combustible liquids are produced, processed, transported, stored, dispensed or used.
To install, alter, remove, abandon or otherwise dispose of a flammable or combustible liquid tank.

Hazardous materials A construction permit is required to install, repair damage to, abandon, remove, place temporarily out of service, or close or substantially modify a storage facility or other area regulated by Chapter 27 when the hazardous materials in use or storage exceed the amounts listed in Table 105.6.20.
Exceptions:

Routine maintenance.
For emergency repair work performed on an emergency basis, application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work.

Industrial ovens A construction permit is required for installation of industrial ovens covered by Chapter 21.
Exceptions:

Routine maintenance.
For repair work performed on an emergency basis, application for permit shall be made within two working days of commencement of work.

LP-gas. A construction permit for installation of or modification to an LP-gas system may be required and approved by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture.

Private fire hydrants. A construction permit is required for the installation or modification of private fire hydrants.

Spraying or dipping A construction permit is required to install or modify a spray room, dip tank or booth.

Standpipe systems. A construction permit is required for the installation, modification, or removal from service of a standpipe system. Maintenance performed in accordance with this code is not considered a modification and does not require a permit.

Temporary membrane structures, tents and canopies. A construction permit is required to erect an air-supported temporary membrane structure or a tent having an area in excess of 200 square feet (19 m2), or a canopy in excess of 400 square feet (37 m2).
Exceptions:

Tents used exclusively for recreational camping purposes.
Funeral tents and curtains or extensions attached thereto, when used for funeral services.
Fabric canopies and awnings open on all sides which comply with all of the following:
1. Individual canopies shall have a maximum size of 700 square feet (65 m2).
2. The aggregate area of multiple canopies placed side by side without a fire break clearance of not less than 12 feet (3658mm) shall not exceed 700 square feet (65m2) total.
3. A minimum clearance of 12 feet (3658mm) to structures and other tents shall be maintain.