Town of Cooleemee

Cooleemee requires a Zoning Compliance Certificate for development subject to the zoning ordinance. After zoning approval, a county building permit is required for construction or alteration of any building, structure, or manufactured home. The town also separately requires a free fence construction permit before any fence or wall is built.

• Exempt Existing fences placed before adoption of the fence ordinance are exempt from current height, material, and setback prohibitions unless replacement work exceeds the ordinance threshold
• Exempt One-story detached accessory buildings used as tool or storage sheds, playhouses, or similar uses, if under 12 feet in any dimension and under 144 square feet, unless the roof extends closer than 5 feet to another structure
• Exempt Nonstructural work costing $20,000 or less in a single-family residence, including replacement of windows, doors, exterior siding, pickets, railings, gutters, or porch flooring, if the work does not affect structural load-bearing elements, fire safety elements, plumbing, gas, or electrical systems

Note: Town-specific permit exemptions were not clearly published beyond the fence ordinance's treatment of existing fences. County building permit exemptions follow North Carolina statute.

Building code

2018 North Carolina Building Code and 2018 NC Existing Building Code

Permit validity

Cooleemee's zoning permit expires if six months pass without issuance of a building permit, and it also expires if construction ceases for 12 months or longer. County building permit expiration is governed by G.S. 160D-1111.

Owner-builder

Davie County provides an Owner Exemption Affidavit for county permits. No separate Cooleemee owner-builder rule was clearly published.

Contractor requirements

North Carolina licensed general contractor rules apply at $40,000 and above, and specialty trade licensing applies for electrical work.

Source: Town of Cooleemee Zoning Administrator / Davie County Planning & Development Services ↗

1. 01
   Apply for a Cooleemee Zoning Compliance Certificate through the town. Complete applications must include site plans and other details needed to verify ordinance compliance.
2. 02
   Obtain utility or environmental approvals before building permit issuance. Cooleemee requires written approval for public water or sewer connection from the Public Works Director, or county health approval if private well or septic will be used.
3. 03
   After the zoning compliance certificate is issued, apply to Davie County for the building permit through the county permit process.
4. 04
   Create an OpenGov account and submit the county permit application with plans and supporting documents.
5. 05
   County staff review the application and issue the permit once complete and approved. Residential permits are estimated at about 10 business days and commercial permits at about 20 business days after complete submission.

Typical processing time: Town zoning review timing not clearly published. County permit timing is about 10 business days for residential and about 20 business days for commercial after a complete submission.

Source: Town of Cooleemee Zoning Administrator / Davie County Planning & Development Services ↗

• OpenGov portal (online)
• 336-753-6050 (phone)

Typical sequence: Zoning approval first, then county permit issuance, then county trade and building inspections according to permit scope.

Source: Town of Cooleemee Zoning Administrator / Davie County Planning & Development Services ↗