Mecklenburg County Hopes to Have POSSE System Back Online This Week


In the wake of last week’s cybercrime attack, Mecklenburg County is continuing to make progress on restoring permitting systems to full functionality. LUESA is running tests on the POSSE system today, and pending those results, is hoping to have it back up and running by tomorrow or Thursday.

LUESA director Ebenezer Gujjarlapudi told REBIC today he is confident that no plans or review comments were lost during the hack, so the department should be able to pick up where they left off once everything is back online.

Code Enforcement has been averaging about 1,000 inspections a week since the system collapsed, so they don’t expect there will be much (if any) of a backup once the system returns to normal. In addition, the County says they’ve had a number of on-schedule reviews completed this week using the paper process, and once the system is back up, they’ll contact all customers in the queue to let them know how they’ll be proceeding with their scheduled reviews. Again, they seem to expect a minimal disruption.

A reminder of where things stand today:

    Yesterday, the County began a limited paper permitting process, and resumed limited plan review. The primary focus will be on emergency/urgent projects.Permitting and plan review under this temporary process will require an in-person visit to the County permitting office, and customers will need to bring multiple copies of paper plans and other paperwork. You are strongly urged to call Code Enforcement and talk with their plan review staff about what documents you will need to bring with you. Commercial customers should call 980-314-CODE and follow the prompts to speak with someone in the Commercial Technical Assistance Center (CTAC). Residential customers should call 980-314-CODE and follow the prompts to speak with someone from the Residential Technical Assistance Center (RTAC).The following systems are still UNAVAILABLE: Permitting & Inspections software (also known as POSSE Winchester or the contractor login), Online Permitting (also known as HIP and TIP), Electronic Plan Management (EPM). Several smaller systems that support these programs or our daily business processes are also unavailable.Phone and e-mail systems are functional. MeckPermit.com is functional, but in some instances, that functionality may be limited, when the site links to or interacts with a program that has not yet been restored.Inspections are being performed, but scheduled and managed manually.Residential inspectors will be in the office and available via phone from 7:30-9 a.m. each weekday. After that, they will be performing inspections in the field and may not be able to take your call or return your message immediately. Calls placed after 9 a.m. will be returned no later than 9 a.m. the next business day. Commercial inspectors will check messages and return calls throughout the workday.

Who to Call for Help

    For temporary permits or plan review (for urgent projects): 980-314-CODE, and speak to someone in the Residential Technical Assistance Center or Commercial Technical Assistance Center.Permitting and plan review questions for projects already under way: Please contact your plans facilitator via phone or e-mail.Inspections: Please contact your inspector directly to schedule an inspection.Urgent Needs: If you are facing an urgent situation, such as the need to have an inspection so power can be restored to a home, or have deadlines such as closing on a home purchase,  please contact your inspector, or the manager listed on the bottom of your permit.General Inquiries: Please contact LUESA’s Customer Service Center at 980-314-CODE.

#CodeEnforcement #MecklenburgCounty

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