County Building Permits
Craven County, NC - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Craven County, North Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Craven County and county-level inspections functions.
- Department
- Craven County Inspections / Planning and Inspections
- Address
- 2828 Neuse Boulevard, New Bern, NC 28562
- Phone
- 252-636-4987
Application Process
- Complete the required permit applications before visiting the Planning and Inspections office.
- For mobile homes, obtain land use approval, a sewer permit, and a flood certificate if applicable, and submit the completed mobile home inspection application with contractor information.
- Bring all required documents to the office to expedite permit purchase and inspection setup.
Source: Craven County Inspections / Planning and Inspections
General Requirements
Residential and commercial projects are subject to the NC State Building Codes and county inspection requirements.
Required Documents
- Permit application
- Land use approval where applicable
- Sewer permit
- Flood certificate in FEMA flood zones
- Contractor name and license information for mobile home permits
- Building code
- NC State Building Codes
- Contractor requirements
- County materials reference contractor name and license number for mobile home permits. North Carolina contractor licensing applies statewide for projects $40,000 and above.
Fees
- Reinspection fee
- A re-inspection fee is charged if a home does not pass the initial inspection.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Craven County Inspections / Planning and Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Time windows
- Mobile home inspections 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 should be done at the same time; inspections 6 through 9 should also be done at the same time.
Typical inspection sequence: Mobile home inspections 1 and 2 or 2 and 3 should be done at the same time, and inspections 6 through 9 should also be done at the same time.
Additional Resources
- Building code: NC State Building Codes
- Craven County municipalities
- Craven County inspections
- License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Craven County Inspections / Planning and Inspections before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Craven County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Craven County, NC?
- Residential and commercial projects are subject to the NC State Building Codes and county inspection requirements.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Craven County, NC?
- 1. Complete the required permit applications before visiting the Planning and Inspections office. 2. For mobile homes, obtain land use approval, a sewer permit, and a flood certificate if applicable, and submit the completed mobile home inspection application with contractor information. 3. Bring all required documents to the office to expedite permit purchase and inspection setup.
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