How do I report a power outage?
If the outage occurs during normal business hours (Monday-Friday 8:30am-5:00pm), call customer service at (252) 481-5817, option 2. After hours, weekends, and holidays, call (252) 481-5844.
Do I need a permit to put up a fence?
Yes and No. The town does not issue a “permit” for a fence however, zoning approval is required. Before the fence is installed an application for zoning compliance (click here to download the application) must be completed and approved by the planning director before the work can begin. The application must also include a plot plan (aerial view) of the property with reference to town right(s)-of-way and the proposed location and height for each section of fence. Things to remember: Please make sure planning approval is granted before you sign an agreement with a contractor or before any materials have been purchased. Planning regulations are based on zoning and height restrictions may differ depending on where you live. Secondly, “Call NC 811 before you dig.” You are required, by law, to have underground utilities located before you disturb (dig) the earth. For more information on locating underground lines, please click here.
Is there a limit to the number of yard sales I can have?
Yes. As noted in the town’s Unified Development Ordinance, four (4) one-day yard sales are permitted per 365-day period in residential districts. Yard sales are not permitted in business districts.
Why isn’t my trash getting picked up?
That’s a good question but let’s dig deeper. There are a number of contributing factors in determining why bulk items and yard debris is not picked up. The only “scheduled” pick-ups are for household garbage (green roll out) and recycling (blue bin or roll out). Bulk items such as furniture, appliances, and yard waste are picked up weekly. Additional fees ($100.00-full load, $50.00-half load) may be charged for the removal of large loads as described in the town’s code of ordinances Chapter 95: Garbage and Trash. The town will not be responsible for removing builder and contractor debris. To keep the town looking its best and to ensure your unwanted items are picked up swiftly please follow these guidelines:
- Trash must be placed adjacent to the curb without preventing the flow of pedestrian traffic.
- Tree limbs and branches no more than six (6) inches in diameter and no more than four (4) feet in length, stacked neatly adjacent to the curb, and must be separate from clippings and leaves.
- Leaves must be bagged or boxed except during leaf season (October 15 through January 15).
Do I need a permit to put up a pool?
Yes. Both in-ground and above-ground pools of three (3) feet or more in-depth must have zoning approval and meet fencing and setback requirements. Before any pool meeting, this description is installed or erected, an application for zoning compliance (click here to download the application) must be completed and approved by the planning director. The application must also include a plot plan (aerial view) of the property with reference to town right(s)-of-way and the proposed locations of the pool and surrounding fence. Things to remember: Please make sure planning approval is granted before you sign an agreement with a contractor or before any materials have been purchased. Planning regulations are based on zoning and height restrictions may differ depending on where you live. Secondly, “Call NC 811 before you dig.” You are required, by law, to have underground utilities located before you disturb (dig) the earth. For more information on locating underground lines, please click here.
Who do I call if I have a sewer back up?
Call us, we are here for you. Customers that experience backup issues should contact the town’s water and sewer department before calling a plumber. It is our responsibility to maintain our sewer mains and therefore if blockages occur within the town’s system it is our responsibility to clear or make necessary repairs. If the town’s septic mains are clear and the blockage is found to be on the customers’ side then a call can be made to a plumber. For blockages during normal business hours, please call 252-481-5823. For after-hours emergencies, please call 252-481-5844.
My neighbor’s grass needs to be mowed. Is there anything the town can to?
Maybe, but only in certain instances. The town’s code of ordinances speaks to overgrown vegetation and the enforcement and abatement thereof in Chapter 96: Health and Sanitation. In order for the town to notify a property owner of a violation, the nuisance vegetation must be over twelve (12) inches in height or overgrown to cause a favorable breeding ground for rodents and other pests. Property owners are notified by mail and are given ten (10) days for abatement. If no action is taken, the town may issue fines up to $50.00 per day. Abatement cost incurred by the town will be billed to the property owners and must be paid within thirty (30) days. Unpaid fines and costs may be filed as a lien on the subject property.
This vehicle has been sitting there for a long time. Can it be removed?
Maybe, but again only in certain instances. Not all vehicles are a nuisance or junked vehicles according to the town’s code. Chapter 90 describes a junked vehicle as one not displaying a current license plate, that is partially dismantled or wrecked, that cannot be self-propelled, and that is greater than five (5) years old and appears to be worth less than $500.00. A nuisance vehicle would be described to be a breeding ground for pests and insects, a point of collection for water, overgrown with vegetation, and visually offensive to the neighborhood (just to name a few). The town’s removal of vehicles must follow either written notification to the property owner or a sticker affixed on the windshield indicating the intent to remove the vehicle no sooner than seven days prior to the removal date. Penalties may be accessed and failure to pay may result in a civil action.