Raleigh, NC Building Safety: Scaffold & Sidewalk Shed (2026)

North Carolina operates an OSHA-approved state plan, so workplace scaffold safety on Raleigh projects is enforced by NC OSHA, not federal OSHA. All scaffolds must be designed, erected, and dismantled under the supervision of a competent person as defined in 29 CFR 1926.451, with fall protection required on platforms 10 feet or higher. Scaffolds must support four times the intended load, have guardrails between 38 and 45 inches high with midrails and toeboards, and be fully planked. Suspended scaffolds on downtown high-rise projects along Fayetteville Street and the Glenwood South corridor require specific engineering, tieback systems, and rescue plans. When scaffolding encroaches on a Raleigh sidewalk or public right-of-way, contractors must obtain a Right-of-Way Use Permit from Transportation Services, install a code-compliant pedestrian protection canopy with lighting, maintain at least five feet of unobstructed pedestrian clearance or provide a protected walkway, and carry minimum $1 million general liability insurance naming the City as additional insured. ADA-accessible routes must be preserved. Scaffolds near overhead power lines require coordination with Duke Energy and minimum clearance distances. Weekly competent-person inspections and post-event inspections after storms or high winds are mandatory. Violations can result in NC OSHA citations carrying fines up to $16,131 per serious violation.