FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: How do I get a police report?
Answer: A party involved in an incident that results in a written report may request a copy of the report by coming by Town Hall during normal business hours (8-5, Monday – Friday) and a copy will be provided without charge. There is a fee that must be paid in advance if an involved party to the incident would like a copy mailed. Click here for current fees. If a person not named as a party to the incident, or a company requests a copy of a report, there is a fee for in-person pickup or mailing. The fee will be waived for a company if they are named on the report as a victim, owner, etc. The Police Department does not fax copies of reports.
Q: How do I know which agency (Sheriff or N.C. Highway Patrol or Rutherfordton Police) has jurisdiction?
A: If any criminal incident or vehicle crash occurs inside the Town limits of Rutherfordton, the Rutherfordton Police Department will investigate and complete any reports. We have reports here only for incidents that occur inside the Town limits. A map of the Town limits can be found here. If a criminal incident occurs outside the Town limits, the Rutherford County Sheriff's Department will typically investigate and complete any reports. North Carolina Highway Patrol will typically investigate and complete any reports for any vehicle crash that occurs outside of any municipal boundaries.
Q: What are the rules regarding controlling animals in Town?
A: Please click on following link Animal Control Ordinance
Q: What are the rules about skateboarding and skating in the Town?
A: No skateboarding or roller skating is allowed on Town sidewalks, streets, or any private property within the area of the north side of Sixth Street to a line running westerly from the south end of South Cleghorn Street to the south end of Mitchell Street and from the east side of Cleghorn Street (including South Cleghorn Street) to the west side of Mitchell Street. In addition, no bicycles, skateboards, skates, scooters, or similar apparatus may be operated on the sidewalk on the north side of Charlotte Road between U.S. Highway 221 to the U.S. Highway 74 Bypass. Violators will have skateboards and roller skates confiscated and will be subject to fines.
Question: What Is The Fire Alarm Ordinance?
Answer: Due to the increasing number of residential, commercial, and industrial facilities having installed fire alarm detection in their premises, the Rutherfordton Town Council adopted an ordinance in order to control the increasing number of false alarms for which the fire department was dispatched. Each location that has a fire alarm receives two free activations per calendar month. Should more than two occur per month, a fine is imposed for all additional alarms at that location. The fee is as follows: $75-Residential, Storage; $100-Business, Assembly; $150-Educational, Industrial, Mercantile, Hazardous, Institutional.
Q: Is Open Burning Allowed In Town?
A: The Town of Rutherfordton follows the NC Air Quality Rule 15A NCAC 2D.1900-Open Burning regulation which states that there will be no open burning of combustible materials where there is debris pickup available. The only permissible open burning per NC Air Quality regulations and NC Fire Code is camp fires, recreation bon fires, and open land clearing where the burning is more than 1000 feet from any occupied dwelling.
Q: Fire Inspections
A: Rutherfordton Fire Department conducts fire inspections inside the corporate limits of the Town of Rutherfordton and the Town of Ruth. The following inspection schedule is as follows: Public schools- twice per year, Hazardous, Institutional- annually, Industrial- every two years, all other occupancies-every three years. Also any business that changes occupancy or ownership is required to have an inspection regardless of the last inspection. Businesses should meet fire code requirements before a Town Privilege license is issued and prior to opening for business.
Q: What is the current ISO Rating?
A: The Rutherfordton Fire Department has a current ISO rating for insurance classifications of a 5/9s. All properties inside the city limits of Rutherfordton, Ruth, and properties within the Rutherfordton Fire District which are no more than 1000 feet from a fire hydrant have a 5 ISO classification. All other properties within the Rutherfordton Fire District have a 9s ISO classification.
Q: What Are The Requirements For Becoming a Volunteer Firefighter?
A: Any interested individual who seeks membership to the Rutherfordton Fire Department must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid NC driver's license, and has maintained a residence for at six months within one mile of the fire department's service area.
