Forsyth County Board of Commissioners

ABC Local Government Opinion and Inspection/Zoning Compliance Form

Before the NC ABC Commission will treat a location as a suitable place, the local governing body has to sign off, and for an establishment that is not inside a city that body is Forsyth County. G.S. 18B-901(b) provides that before issuing a retail ABC permit — other than a special occasion, limited special occasion, temporary or special one-time permit — the Commission shall give notice of the application to the governing body of the city in which the establishment is located, or to the governing body of the county if the establishment is not inside a city, and shall allow that body 15 days from the mailing or delivery of the notice to file written objection stating the facts on which it is based. G.S. 18B-901(c) requires the local governing body to return a Zoning and Compliance Form to the Commission, on a form the Commission provides, showing the establishment is in compliance with all applicable building and fire codes. The Commission's own Local Government Opinion page requires a signed and notarised Local Government Opinion Form and proof of mandatory compliance with all applicable building and fire codes using the Inspection/Zoning Compliance Form, cites G.S. 18B-904(f), states that designated officials are expected to process these forms within 15 days of receipt, and notes that County Commissioners, City or Town Council members or Mayors may change their designee by filing a resolution form with the Commission — so the signatory in Forsyth County is the official the Board of Commissioners has designated by name or position. The permit itself remains a state instrument: G.S. 18B-901(a) provides that all ABC permits shall be issued by the Commission. This step is separate from, and additional to, the county beverage license the Tax Collector issues under G.S. 105-113.78, the $50.00 county fire ABC inspection outside Winston-Salem and Kernersville, and the $50.00 zoning, DMV and ABC letter from the joint Inspections Division, all listed separately.