Starting Your Downtown Business
Opening a business will require permits, licenses and other approvals from the City of Fayetteville. The particular approvals needed for your business will depend on the nature of your business and the scope of needed improvements to the real estate. The following City departments are the first points of contact for issuing approvals:
City of Fayetteville Business License Office
All businesses operating within city limits must have a business license. 910-433-1676
City of Fayetteville Building Permits
The Inspections Department enforces the NC State Building Codes and City of Fayetteville Ordinances.
910-433-1707
City of Fayetteville Fire Inspection
Inspections are conducted of businesses and some operational functions and occupancies may require mandatory permits. A Certificate of Occupancy may be obtained by meeting all fire and life safety codes. 910-433-1730
City of Zoning Department
Any outdoor dining or merchandise areas must be approved and permitted through zoning. 433-1707
City of Fayetteville Planning Department
Provides services pertaining to annexations, historic preservation, rezoning requests, site plan review, special use permits, land use, neighborhood studies and variance requests. 910-433-1612
General Info
No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, install, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, structure, or service system without first obtaining a permit for such from the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department. Work shall not deviate substantially from that described on the permit documents.
A permit shall expire six (6) months after the date of issuance if the work authorized by the permit has not been commenced. If after commencement, the work is discontinued for twelve (12) months, the permit shall expire. Work authorized by any permit that has expired shall not continue until a new permit has been secured.
All holders of permits, or their agents, shall notify the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department and the appropriate inspector at each completion of the stages of construction so that approval may be given before work is continued.
Certificate of Occupancy
No new building or part thereof shall be occupied, and no addition or enlargement of any existing building shall be occupied, and no change of occupancy shall be made in any existing building or part thereof, until the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department has issued a Certificate of Occupancy. The Development Services Department shall issue a Certificate of Occupancy when, after examination and inspection, it is found that the building in all respects conforms to the provisions of the North Carolina State Building Code and the Zoning Ordinance for the occupancy intended.
SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES
Fayetteville Downtown Alliance
The Fayetteville Downtown Alliance is a non profit organization, which encourages downtown business growth and promotes downtown to the public.
www.fayettevillealliance.com
Center for Economic Empowerment & Development (CEED)
Center for Economic Empowerment & Development (CEED, formerly The Women’s Center, is a regional and community advocacy and resource center for men and women that provides business assistance to start up and expanding small businesses. Services include education and job skill training.
www.ncceed.org
Small Business Center at FTCC
The Small Business Center at FTCC offers a variety of services to help existing businesses grow and serves first time entrepreneurs. The center can provide counseling and offers a multitude of different classes and seminars from starting a business to growing your business through marketing or applying for SBA loans.
www.faytechcc.edu/sm_bus
Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce
The Fayetteville-Cumberland County Chamber of Commerce strives to improve quality of life by creating wealth, jobs and investment in our community.
www.fayettevillencchamber.org
Fayetteville Business Center
The mission of the FBC is to promote economic development in the City of Fayetteville and the Murchison Road corridor by providing business assistance to entrepreneurs and business incubation opportunities for small business growth.
www.fayettevillebusinesscenter.com
Small Business Administration (SBA)
The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) was created in 1953 as an independent agency of the federal government to aid, counsel, assist and protect the interests of small business concerns, to preserve free competitive enterprise and to maintain and strengthen the overall economy of our nation.
www.sba.gov/localresources/district/nc
Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC)
Organized as an inter-institutional program of the University of North Carolina, operated in partnership with the SBA, the Small Business and Technology Development Center (SBTDC) is the primary organization through which the State of North Carolina provides counseling and technical assistance to the business community. The SBTDC's mission is to support the growth and development of North Carolina's economy by encouraging entrepreneurship, assisting in the creation and expansion of small businesses, and facilitating technology development and transfer.
www.uncfsu.edu/sbe/outreach_centers/small_business_technology
North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC)
The North Carolina Military Business Center (NCMBC) is a business development organization and a collaborative effort between North Carolina business and the North Carolina Community College System. The mission of the Military Business Center is to leverage military and other federal business opportunities for economic development and quality of life in North Carolina.
www.ncmbc.us
Sandhills SCORE
Sandhills SCORE (Counselors to America’s Small Business) is a nonprofit association composed of experienced businessmen and women from throughout the Sandhills who volunteer their time, at no cost, to assist entrepreneurs with business start-up, as well as operational small businesses in the area. Sandhills SCORE is available to assist start-up and on-going small businesses.
http://sandhillsscore.org/
Cumberland Regional Improvement Corporation (CRIC)
Cumberland Regional Improvement Corporation (CRIC) is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization incorporated for the purpose of raising the economic, educational, and social welfare levels of low wealth areas of communities, through partnerships that increases the opportunities to own, manage and operate business enterprises that will result in long-term sustainable growth in businesses and human capital. CRIC’s is committed to promoting and advocating Historically Underutilized Businesses [HUBs] by providing managerial and technical assistance and businesses development services that supports the growth of minority and women –owned business.
www.cric-nc.org
NC Procurement Technical Assistance Center
NC PTAC helps businesses obtain contracts by providing comprehensive assistance in selling products and services to local, state and federal government entities. The purpose of the NC PTAC is to generate employment and to improve the general economic condition of the state by assisting all North Carolina companies including those eligible for preferential consideration in obtaining and performing under local, state and federal government contracts.
www.sbtdc.org
Cumberland County Public Library & Information Center
Free computer classes and private instruction available.
www.cumberland.lib.nc.us
Opening a business will require permits, licenses and other approvals from the City of Fayetteville. The particular approvals needed for your business will depend on the nature of your business and the scope of needed improvements to the real estate. The following City departments are the first points of contact for issuing approvals:
City of Fayetteville Business License Office
All businesses operating within city limits must have a business license. 910-433-1676
City of Fayetteville Building Permits
The Inspections Department enforces the NC State Building Codes and City of Fayetteville Ordinances.
910-433-1707
City of Fayetteville Fire Inspection
Inspections are conducted of businesses and some operational functions and occupancies may require mandatory permits. A Certificate of Occupancy may be obtained by meeting all fire and life safety codes. 910-433-1730
City of Zoning Department
Any outdoor dining or merchandise areas must be approved and permitted through zoning. 433-1707
City of Fayetteville Planning Department
Provides services pertaining to annexations, historic preservation, rezoning requests, site plan review, special use permits, land use, neighborhood studies and variance requests. 910-433-1612
General Info
No person, firm or corporation shall erect, construct, enlarge, install, alter, repair, move, improve, remove, convert or demolish any building, structure, or service system without first obtaining a permit for such from the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department. Work shall not deviate substantially from that described on the permit documents.
A permit shall expire six (6) months after the date of issuance if the work authorized by the permit has not been commenced. If after commencement, the work is discontinued for twelve (12) months, the permit shall expire. Work authorized by any permit that has expired shall not continue until a new permit has been secured.
All holders of permits, or their agents, shall notify the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department and the appropriate inspector at each completion of the stages of construction so that approval may be given before work is continued.
Certificate of Occupancy
No new building or part thereof shall be occupied, and no addition or enlargement of any existing building shall be occupied, and no change of occupancy shall be made in any existing building or part thereof, until the City of Fayetteville Development Services Department has issued a Certificate of Occupancy. The Development Services Department shall issue a Certificate of Occupancy when, after examination and inspection, it is found that the building in all respects conforms to the provisions of the North Carolina State Building Code and the Zoning Ordinance for the occupancy intended.
