In roughly 27 A.D., the collapse of the amphitheater in Rome, killing or injuring 50,000 people prompted the rulers of Rome to develop regulations for the safety of public places. However, even with the new regulations, 40 years later Rome burned to the ground mostly because of poorly constructed buildings. While intensely tragic, the Emperor saw the opportunity to introduce new legislation that vastly improved the construction safety of a reconstructed city of Rome. The New Hanover County Building Division enforces the NC State Uniform Building Code as well as applicable requirements from NHC’s local Code of Ordinances.