Union County's Departments of Building Code Enforcement and Environmental Health are hosting a Contractors' Meeting to discuss an upcoming process change to our certificate of occupancy process. Effective September 1, 2024, Union County will no longer issue a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) for a new dwelling or commercial structure served by a private drinking water well until water quality testing is performed and the results evaluated and determined to be potable. We are making this change for several reasons: 

• to ensure well water is safe to consume before a new home or commercial structure is occupied;
• to protect residents from unexpected expenses and delays in their construction process; 
• to ensure that CO issuance is compliant with the North Carolina 2018 Plumbing Code. 

There are a few noteworthy exceptions to this change. Renovations to a structure already being served by a well will not trigger the requirement for a well test. This change does not apply to agricultural or irrigation wells as long as water is not used for human consumption. 

Contractors, building professionals, and well drillers who do work in Union County are welcome to attend this meeting. If you do plan to attend, please click here to RSVP so that we can ensure adequate seating for everyone.