County Building Permits
Edgecombe County, NC - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Edgecombe County, North Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Unincorporated Edgecombe County and county-administered building permits/inspections for the county, plus county permit processing used by towns that rely on Edgecombe County for building permits.
- Department
- Edgecombe County Planning & Inspections
- Address
- P.O. Box 10, 201 St. Andrew Street, Room 205, Tarboro, NC 27886
- Phone
- 252-641-7802
Application Process
- Complete the county building permit application.
- Submit the application with 2 copies of plans for new construction.
- Provide contractor and subcontractor license information where applicable.
- Wait for permit review and approval before starting work.
General Requirements
A permit is required for nonresidential and residential buildings before work begins.
Required Documents
- Completed permit application
- Parcel ID
- E-911 address
- Project description
- Contractor license information
- Sub-contractor information when applicable
- Project cost
- 2 sets of plans for new construction
- Building code
- 2018 North Carolina State Building Code (state rollout of 2024 code delayed).
- Contractor requirements
- County application requires building contractor and subcontractor license numbers where applicable; state general contractor license required for projects of "40,000 or more".
Fees
- Reinspection fee
- $75 first reinspection; $150 second and additional trips per trip
- Penalty (no permit)
- $250 fine or twice permit fee, whichever is greater, for work without a permit or under stop work order
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Edgecombe County Planning & Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
Typical inspection sequence: Work cannot start until permit is issued; plans are required for new construction and inspections occur as required by code.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2018 North Carolina State Building Code (state rollout of 2024 code delayed).
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- County GIS
- County parcel access
- 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 Edgecombe County Planning & Inspections before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Edgecombe County Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Edgecombe County, NC?
- A permit is required for nonresidential and residential buildings before work begins.
- How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Edgecombe County, NC?
- 1. Complete the county building permit application. 2. Submit the application with 2 copies of plans for new construction. 3. Provide contractor and subcontractor license information where applicable. 4. Wait for permit review and approval before starting work.
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