Before reading this material, it would be helpful for you
to first read the State of NC Private School Requirements.

Does NC non-public school law require that the building inspections be successfully passed before the school begins initial operation?  The NC non-public school statute does not specifically so state.  However, from a practical standpoint, the chief administrator and the governing board of the school could suffer legal jeopardy for having children occupy a building that has not been officially authorized for use as a school building by these local building inspectors -- especially if a building-related accident or catastrophe were to occur.  The potential legal liability to the chief administrator and the school's governing board could be financially enormous should parent lawsuits then be filed against the school.  For this reason, DNPE strongly recommends that the first day of classes not be conducted until all of the required building inspections by the local inspectors are successfully passed.

How frequently does DNPE do on-site visits to conventional non-public schools?  Each school is visited once during each of the first two years after being initially registered with DNPE and then again once during every second or third year thereafter.

In registering a new school, is there a preferred order for the conducting of the three types of initial building inspections?  First, contact the local building inspector's office.  That inspector will approve the building for school usage.  Next, contact the local fire marshal's office to request that a fire inspection be conducted.  Then, contact the county health department's school sanitation section to request what is known as an "initial courtesy inspection."  He/she will then do an initial brief "walkthrough" and give the school administrator only a partially completed Inspection of School form.  He/she will then return at a later unannounced date to assign sanitation grades to each of the items on his/her official Inspection of School form.  A photocopy of this "initial courtesy inspection" will suffice for attaching to your completed Notice of Intent to Operate A School form.  See the school sanitation inspection preparation checklist.  If the school will meet in a leased or rented building, it is suggested that these inspections be done before formally committing to the lease or rental of the facility.

Q & A Home Page
Links for Educators