Community & Economic Development

Frequently Asked Question

Please reference the frequently asked questions below regarding our various programs. If your specific question is not answered, we would be glad to answer it by phone or email.

FAQ Categories

Code Enforcement

Our department cannot address overgrown grass/shrubbery unless it is causing a residential or dilapidated structure to be unsafe.

Submit a complaint by clicking on “Submit a Compliant” located on the Housing Code page. Once the complaint is received, a code enforcement officer will investigate the compliant. 
Visit the Environmental Assistance and Protection website at www.forsyth.cc/EAP/or contact their office at (336)-703-2441 to file a complaint if the property resides outside of the city limits of Winston-Salem or Kernersville).
Submit a complaint by clicking on “Submit a Compliant” located on the Housing Code page. Once the complaint is received, a code enforcement officer will investigate the compliant. 

Visit the Environmental Health Division of the Department of Public Health at www.forsyth.cc/HHS/environmental_health/ or contact their office at 336-703-3225.

Call the City of Winston-Salem at (336) 727-8000 (or email Amy Lanier - amyrl@cityofws.org) to file a Zoning complaint.
Call the City of Winston-Salem at (336) 727-8000 (or email Amy Lanier - amyrl@cityofws.org) to file a Zoning complaint.

First Time Home Buyers

FCCED provides two types of down payment assistance (Based on Income Guideline Eligibility and Program Participation): Forgivable 2nd mortgage funds for eligible homebuyers 0% Deferred Repayment
No, Forsyth County does not provide 1st mortgages. Every homebuyer that we assist must be able to qualify for an Affordable Home Mortgage. There are lenders that participate in providing Affordable Mortgages through NC Housing Finance Agency. (Note: Certain credit evaluation is conducted.) www.NCHFA.COM
Eligibility is based on Household Size and Income. Household Income must not exceed 80% of the Area Median Income for Forsyth County / Winston-Salem, NC, published yearly. (See the Area Median Income chart on our First Time Home Buyer webpage)
You will be required to complete an approved 8-10 hour Homebuyer Education Workshop and a 2 Hour Home Maintenance Workshop prior to receiving assistance.
Homebuyers are required to contribute a minimum of $1,000 towards the purchase, excluding any gift funds or seller paid costs. Everyone is encouraged to save in order to have personal funds available for those homebuyer expenses not covered by down payment.
  • Newly Constructed
  • Existing Construction (NOTE: Property MUST pass all inspections and meet Property Condition guidelines)
  • New Manufactured
No, Forsyth County encourages every potential homebuyer to hire a Real Estate Agent / Realtor to represent them in this major life-changing transaction.
The home must be located in Forsyth County.
Contact us at 336-703-2684 and we will send you a Down Payment Assistance Application Packet to complete. Once you have completed the packet our office will receive notification, and one of our staff members will be contacting you for a phone appointment. (Due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, in-person appointments are not offered at this time. All appointments will be conducted via phone.)
  1. Reach out to us at 336-703-2684 or 336-703-2678 to receive “Request for Subordination” forms and return along with all required documents.
  2. Once the complete packet is received, it will be reviewed for approval (7-14 business days.)
  3. If approved, the information will be sent to our legal department to complete the subordination agreement (7-14 business days.)
We do not provide affordable rental housing through the County, but we encourage you to contact the United Way (336-721-9368) or the Housing Authority of Winston-Salem (336-727-8500) for assistance with acquiring affordable housing.
Down payment assistance programs provide would-be homebuyers with money to cover some or all of a down payment and assist with closing costs.
The Community and Economic Development Department is not currently providing rental assistance BUT the Department of Social Services is distributing that funding. You can find more information on our homepage or on the Forsyth County homepage there is a purple button in the top right corner.

Fair Housing

You can file a complaint with the North Carolina Human Relations Commission. Please call the Commission at (919) 807-4420 or toll free at (866) 324-7474. For more information visit www.doa.nc.gov
A housing provider cannot refuse to rent to applicants solely because they have children, unless the apartment complex meets the criteria for senior housing (55+ and 62+).
Yes
If the residential real estate is located in North Carolina, the North Carolina Human Relations Commission will investigate to determine whether unlawful discrimination has occurred.

Housing Rehabilitation

Yes. We encourage you to seek out as many resources as may be available to you. However, please let us know if you are looking into other programs, and let those programs know too. Keep in mind that you may not be able to receive assistance from more than one source, depending on funding rules. However, when exploring your options, seek out what information you can. Applying to another program will not hurt your chances of being served in our program.
No. Our program is for owner-occupied housing only. This means that at least one member of the household must be a legal owner of the property.
Yes. Qualification is based on current household status. However, if you initially report the extra person, and they do move out, you simply let our rehab staff know and we will adjust your file accordingly.
The best answer is “it depends.” Incomplete applications will be accepted, but they will not be qualified until all required materials are submitted to rehab staff. The sooner you can submit your completed application packet, with all necessary materials included, the sooner you will be qualified and added onto our Wait List.
Once your paper application is qualified, you are placed onto the Wait List. While Forsyth County’s priority is to serve the most urgent needs first, we often receive many requests for urgent housing repairs. So, we are unable to give a firm timeline on when your house will be served. Our goal is to serve households within 1-2 months, but various factors may add to this timeline, including the projected size of the project, available funding, staff availability, and weather/environmental delays. Our staff will keep you updated on your status and will attempt to give an estimated timeframe. For additional updates, you are welcome to contact our staff and ask.
No. Forsyth County’s Housing Rehab Program has a contractor list from which contractors are invited to bid on rehab projects. The contractors will be provided a Work Write-up document from the Rehab Staff that will detail all of the repairs required. After previewing the house and the needed repairs, the contractors will submit bid packages, providing their quotes for completing the work. Rehab staff will select the lowest, reasonable bidder to perform the work on your house. Keep in mind, we do require proof of insurance and licensing before the contractor is awarded the contract.

Entrepreneurship & Small Business

To apply for the program, visit the Forsyth County website at bit.ly/SmallBusinessIDA

The business must be located in Forsyth County and in business on or prior to January 1, 2023.
During the application process, IDA program applicants are required to obtain a credit report from the Center for Homeownership (CHO). There is a $60.00 non-refundable application fee that covers the required tri-merge credit report. Upon being accepted into the program, participants will return to CHO for a Credit Action Plan.   

Eligibility is based on household size and income. Household income must not exceed 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for Forsyth County. AMI levels are determined every year by the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). 

View income guidelines at
https://forsyth.cc/Housing/assets/documents/2023HUDIncomeLimits.pdf

Participants are allowed to miss up to three financial literacy classes and up to three small business classes. However, participants will be required to make up the classes with the instructors during a specified timeframe.  
Emergency withdrawals are discouraged and can only occur with the approval of the IDA Program Manager after an individual has been depositing for a minimum of six months. Any individual who withdraws funds prior to the six-month timeframe effectively resigns from the program. 

Approved assets are designed to help participants acquire additional productive assets and/or increase the value of productive assets they already hold. In particular, participants may use their IDA savings and match funds for the following expenses:

To expand or stabilize an existing small business - expenditures for business equipment, targeted marketing or advertising campaigns, or other planned business expansion efforts. Generally speaking, IDA funds should not be used to replenish inventory or cover other on-going operating expenses (such as payroll or occupancy costs). For asset purchases that require financing other than IDA funds, participants should apply and receive approval for the loan or mortgage needed to make the asset purchase possible. Under no circumstances should IDA funds be used to delay the demise of a business that has no reasonable prospect for survival.

Participants must agree to all program requirements. Participants may be asked to leave the program for the following reasons: - Missing monthly savings deposits - Missing Financial Literacy and Small Business - Making unauthorized savings withdrawals - Having no contact with his/her Success Coach - Engaging in unlawful activities

IDA Small Business Participants have 28 months (starting the day of orientation) to meet all program requirements and to draw-down total matched funds. The Forsyth County Community and Economic Development Department can only guarantee funds are available for up to 28 months. 
The program offers a 4:1 match up to $4,000. Participants are encouraged to save $100-$200 per month in an IDA savings account. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a 4:1 match for their funds (ex: $2,000 saved x 4:1 ratio = $8,000 + $2,000 = $10,000 total. The maximum grant amount is $16,000 (ex: $4,000 saved x 4:1 ratio = $16,000 + $4000 = $20,000.

 In order to receive matching funds, participants must have an approved business plan by program completion. The business plan will include: business description, market analysis and strategy, marketing and sales plan, products and services, competitive analysis, and an operating plan. IDA success coaches will assist participants with completing their business plans.

Fair Housing Statment

Forsyth County does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, familial status, physical handicap or disability in its employment opportunities, programs, services or activities.

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Community & Economic Development

  • 201 North Chestnut Street
    Fifth Floor
    Winston-Salem, NC 27101
  • Phone: 336 703 2680
  • Fax: 336 727 8580
  • Email: ForsythCED@forsyth.cc