On this page 6
§ 02
When a permit is required
Permit triggers and exempt work for Randolph County
Randolph County requires permits before construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, demolition, and most electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, subject to North Carolina statutory exemptions.
Construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building, unless the work involves load-bearing structures, changes plumbing design, changes HVAC or electrical design, uses non-code materials, adds roofing rather than replacing roofing, or involves fire-code work
Like-kind replacement of electrical lighting fixtures or devices in one- and two-family dwellings by a licensed person under the statutory conditions
Water-heater replacement in one- and two-family dwellings under the statutory conditions
Utility load-control device work by electric power suppliers or their contracted electrical contractors under the statutory exemption
- Exempt Construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building, unless the work involves load-bearing structures, changes plumbing design, changes HVAC or electrical design, uses non-code materials, adds roofing rather than replacing roofing, or involves fire-code work
- Exempt Like-kind replacement of electrical lighting fixtures or devices in one- and two-family dwellings by a licensed person under the statutory conditions
- Exempt Water-heater replacement in one- and two-family dwellings under the statutory conditions
- Exempt Utility load-control device work by electric power suppliers or their contracted electrical contractors under the statutory exemption
Required documents
- County permit application
- Zoning clearance
- Applicant and contractor information
- Address and project description
- Additional outside approvals as applicable
- Plans when required
- Building code
- North Carolina State Building Code as enforced by Randolph County. OSFM's current-codes pages show the 2018 code family in force pending the delayed 2024 rollout.
- Permit validity
- North Carolina building permits lapse after 6 months of inactivity under G.S. 160D-1114. Randolph County posts a $30 fee to reopen expired permits up to 6 years old.
- Owner-builder
- Homeowners may perform certain residential trade work themselves in the specific circumstances described in the applications. Owner-exempt state permits require owner presence for inspection unless sealed plans are used under G.S. 160D-1114.
- Contractor requirements
- State law requires a licensed general contractor for projects costing $40,000 or more. Electrical work requiring licensure must be by a properly licensed electrical contractor. County permit issuance also depends on required specialty licenses.
§ 03
Application process
Typical processing: State requires initial residential plan review within 15 business days where residential plan review is performed
- 01 Obtain a zoning permit from Randolph County Planning and Development. A zoning permit with a $25 fee must be obtained from Randolph County Planning and Development unless the property lies in a city zoning jurisdiction.
- 02 Gather any required outside approvals, such as well/septic, mobile home tax certification, engineered plans, or other project-specific approvals.
- 03 Submit the applicable county permit application online through ePermits, by email, or in person. Randolph County posts general construction, demolition, consultation, and trade permit applications.
- 04 Pay the permit fees. ePermits supports billing and payment; county staff also process permits through the office.
- 05 Receive the permit, post it on site, and schedule inspections by phone or ePermits.
- 06 Complete inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy or compliance.
Typical processing time: State requires initial residential plan review within 15 business days where residential plan review is performed
Source: Randolph County Department of Building Inspections ↗
§ 04
Fee schedule
Randolph County building permit fees
Fee type
Amount
01
Minimum permit fee
$60 minimum building permit fee for work up to and including $20,000; $60 trade base fee
02
Plan check fee
$100 residential; $300 commercial
03
Permit fee formula
Building permits are valuation-based using ICC Building Valuation Data for new construction and county-approved project cost valuations for alterations/repairs. Electrical permits are based on service size and low-voltage categories; plumbing permits on fixture counts; HVAC permits on number of units; mobile home and modular setup permits use flat schedules.
04
Reinspection fee
Rejection fee $30 residential and $60 commercial; reopen expired permit $30; demolition permit $75 residential and $150 commercial; consultation inspections $50 residential and $100 commercial; permit fees doubled if issued after commencement of work
County permits may be paid through ePermits billing/payment or through the permitting office; zoning permit fee for county-jurisdiction sites is listed as $25 on the county application form
Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.
§ 05
Required inspections
Scheduling and sequence
How to schedule
- Randolph County (phone)
- ePermits (online)
- Scheduling deadline
- Have the permit number ready before calling
- Inspection hours
- Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
- Time windows
- Inspectors can be reached 8 to 9 am and 4 to 5 pm
Live remote inspections available for certain eligible inspections: sewer/water trench up to 100 feet, gas line pressure tests, wall sheathing, insulation, shower pan, and some re-inspections
Source: Randolph County Department of Building Inspections ↗
§ 06
Frequently asked
Common questions about unincorporated Randolph County permits
01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Randolph County, NC? ▸
Randolph County requires permits before construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, demolition, and most electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, subject to North Carolina statutory exemptions.
02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Randolph County, NC? ▸
Building permit fees in unincorporated Randolph County, NC are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $60 minimum building permit fee for work up to and including $20,000; $60 trade base fee. Fees are calculated as: Building permits are valuation-based using ICC Building Valuation Data for new construction and county-approved project cost valuations for alterations/repairs. Electrical permits are based on service size and low-voltage categories; plumbing permits on fixture counts; HVAC permits on number of units; mobile home and modular setup permits use flat schedules.. Plan check fee: $100 residential; $300 commercial.
03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Randolph County, NC? ▸
To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Randolph County, NC, follow these steps: 1. Obtain a zoning permit from Randolph County Planning and Development. A zoning permit with a $25 fee must be obtained from Randolph County Planning and Development unless the property lies in a city zoning jurisdiction. 2. Gather any required outside approvals, such as well/septic, mobile home tax certification, engineered plans, or other project-specific approvals. 3. Submit the applicable county permit application online through ePermits, by email, or in person. Randolph County posts general construction, demolition, consultation, and trade permit applications. 4. Pay the permit fees. ePermits supports billing and payment; county staff also process permits through the office. 5. Receive the permit, post it on site, and schedule inspections by phone or ePermits. 6. Complete inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy or compliance.
04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Randolph County, NC? ▸
Building permit processing times in unincorporated Randolph County, NC typically run State requires initial residential plan review within 15 business days where residential plan review is performed. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.
05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Randolph County, NC? ▸
Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Randolph County, NC. The following work is generally exempt: Construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building, unless the work involves load-bearing structures, changes plumbing design, changes HVAC or electrical design, uses non-code materials, adds roofing rather than replacing roofing, or involves fire-code work; Like-kind replacement of electrical lighting fixtures or devices in one- and two-family dwellings by a licensed person under the statutory conditions; Water-heater replacement in one- and two-family dwellings under the statutory conditions; Utility load-control device work by electric power suppliers or their contracted electrical contractors under the statutory exemption. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.
06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Randolph County, NC? ▸
Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Randolph County, NC via: Randolph County, ePermits. Have the permit number ready before calling.
last verified April 2026
source Randolph County Department of Building Inspections ↗
entry id permits/north-carolina/randolph/unincorporated
Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Randolph County Department of Building Inspections before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.