Surry County, NC Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Section 92.20(A) of the Abatement of Health and Safety Nuisance Ordinance sets out three ways a complaint about a dangerous or prejudicial property condition can reach the Surry County Planning Department, called 'the Department' in the ordinance: a written complaint, an oral or anonymous complaint, or the Ordinance Enforcement Officer's own observation of circumstances suggesting a violation. Whichever route is used, the notification is forwarded to the Department's Director or the Director's designee, and the ordinance directs that the complaint identify the property by street address or parcel identification number 'if possible,' along with information describing the nature of the nuisance.

Because the ordinance expressly allows anonymous complaints, a resident does not have to give a name to trigger an investigation. Once a complaint is received, § 92.20(B) requires the Director to assign an Ordinance Enforcement Officer to investigate, document the conditions with photographs where relevant, and prepare a written report recommending whether further action is warranted; that investigation must begin within 96 hours of receipt. If the officer recommends no action, § 92.20(C) requires the Department to close the file and notify the complainant in writing of that outcome, so a report is not simply dropped without a response.