The City of Durham released on Apr. 29 a set of guidelines aimed at helping applicants prevent delays in the plan review process, along with several updates from the Building & Safety Department.
According to city officials, reviewing submittals before applying can help keep projects on schedule. The city outlined ten common issues that can cause plan review delays, including incomplete applications, missing signatures or seals, use of outdated forms, unclear project scope descriptions, lack of code references, plans not drawn to scale, missing supporting documents, coordination issues among design professionals, incomplete plot plan details, and unmarked resubmittals. Applicants are encouraged to consult the Plan Review webpage for required documentation.
The city also announced that a recent payment issue with Paymentus has been resolved. Residents who believe their transactions may have been affected are asked to contact [email protected]. In addition, all inspections must now be scheduled online through the Land Development Office (LDO) Portal; appointments will no longer be accepted by email or phone. Computer access is available in the customer service lobby at City Hall for those with limited internet access.
Department updates highlight ongoing staff vacancies in both plans review and field inspections within the building division. This may lead to longer processing times for building reviews and inspection services. The department advises applicants to ensure designs comply with current codes and local requirements before submission and reminds them that only complete application packages will be processed efficiently.
Mechanical contractors are informed about a preapproved Alternate Method form allowing use of A2L low-flammability refrigerants in HVAC systems prior to new state code effective dates. Three compliance pathways are available under this approval: utilizing ASHRAE 15-2022 under current codes; using Chapter 11 of the upcoming mechanical code under alternate materials provisions; or following prescriptive methods as specified.
Looking ahead, the City announced upcoming summer holiday closures for Memorial Day (May 25), Juneteenth (June 19), and Independence Day (July 3). Those interested in public service careers can find job openings listed on the city’s website.