BEAUFORT COUNTY INSPECTION AND CODE

ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT

INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION SERVICE

IAS Building Department Accreditation Program

• IAS accreditation provides national recognition that building departments are professionally qualified to serve their jurisdictions.

• Accreditation of the building department provides independent third-party recognition that our organization has fulfilled specified requirements and is competent to carry out specific code enforcement tasks.

Benefits of Accreditation• Accreditation by IAS conveys formal recognition that a building

department has demonstrated that it is technically competent to administer an effective system of code enforcement that is fair, equitable and benefits the community it serves.

• The accreditation verifies that the Beaufort County Inspection and Code Enforcement Department is operating at the highest legal, ethical and technical standards.

• Increased department efficiency, fewer complaints from the public and the potential for lower insurance premiums.

• Preserves Property Values

• Consumer Confidence

Accreditation Process

Stakeholders Input

• County Administrator• Director of the Planning Department• Fire Chiefs Association• Chamber of Commerce• Home Builders Association• Local A.I.A. Chapter, HHI• Local S.E.A. Chapter, HHI • Director of Employee Services• Director of MIS• Zoning Administrator• Director of Public Service Department• Citizen Survey• Department Staff

Timeline• June 6, 2008 Sent initial documents for review• August 6, 2008 Received an email from IAS of preliminary

findings• September 27, 2007 Filed Application• August 12, 2008 Received an email from Rick Archer

regarding the review and items needing to be addressed.• September 2, 2008 Received email from Rick Archer

stating the peer review should be completed by September 12, 2008

• November 26, 2008 Package sent to IAS responding to their preliminary review

• December 2, 2008 Received confirmation they received our information

• January 29, 2009 Received notice from IAS scheduling our pre-evaluation for March 2-3

• March 2-3 visited by Scott Cope and Dave Nelson of IAS

Timeline (continued)• March 3, 2009 Received follow up letter from Scott Cope regarding

details of the pre-evaluation and received a copy of the IAS workbook

• July 17, 2009 Provided items requested at the pre-evaluation • August 27, 2009 Received notice that the full evaluation was

scheduled for September 14-17• September 14-17 Full evaluation visit by representatives from IAS• October 19, 2009 Sent response to comments received during final

evaluation.• November 30, 2009 Submitted final revised workbook• February 2, 2010 Received notice that the lead evaluator was

unavailable until March 19, 2010• March 19, 2010 Final IAS Board hearing by teleconference for

approval• April 6, 2010 Final Accreditation Certificate Issued

Cost of Accreditation

• Initial application………...3500.00

• Pre-evaluation review….4989.36

• Full evaluation…………..9734.97

• Total…………………….18,224.33

Summary

• For us, accreditation is the benchmark of excellence. We wanted a report card of our performance.

• By achieving accreditation, our residents and builders can have confidence in our ability to carry out our mission at the highest level of public service.

• The process has helped us become more efficient, demand more of ourselves and to always seek new ways to improve the delivery of our service.

Status

• The first Building Inspection Department in South Carolina to achieve this accreditation.

• Beaufort County is one of thirteen in the country to have this accreditation.

CERTIFICATE