Buncombe County, NC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Under Sec. 10-126(a), the county building inspector declares a building or structure "unsafe" whenever it is in such a dilapidated state of disrepair or other substandard condition as to be dangerous to life, health or property, or to constitute a fire or safety hazard or a public nuisance, whether the cause is defective construction, overloaded structural parts, decay or fire susceptibility under Sec. 10-126(b); that declaration itself functions as an order of condemnation under Sec. 10-126(d). Before demolition can be ordered, Sec. 10-128 requires written notice to the owner and a hearing held at least ten days out, where the owner can appear with counsel and present evidence; if the owner can't be found, notice is posted on the building and published once in a local newspaper.

If the inspector confirms the unsafe finding after the hearing, Sec. 10-129 requires an order giving the owner at least 60 days to remedy or demolish. The owner can appeal that order to the board of commissioners under Sec. 10-130, but must file the appeal at the hearing or within ten days, or the inspector's order becomes final. If the owner never appeals and never complies, Sec. 10-131 sends the case to the board of commissioners, and Sec. 10-132 lets the board order the demolition itself and assess the full cost as a lien against the lot, enforceable like a mortgage foreclosure. Sec. 10-135 makes willful failure to comply with a final order a separate offense for every day it continues.