Union County, NC — 2026 Building Permit Guide

On this page 6

§ 01

Permit authority

Union County Building Code Enforcement; Union County Planning and Zoning

Street address

Building Code Enforcement: 500 N. Main Street, Suite 47, Monroe, NC 28112; Planning: 500 N. Main Street, Suite 70, Monroe, NC 28112

Phone

Building permits and inspections 704-283-3816; Planning 704-283-3565

ucinspections@unioncountync.gov

Coverage

Union County Building Code Enforcement has authority for issuing building permits in all parts of the county except Monroe and Waxhaw. For unincorporated areas, the county handles both zoning and building permitting.

Online portal

Union County Evolve Public Portal

Evolve

Website

Department website

Additional resources

§ 02

When a permit is required

Permit triggers and exempt work for Union County

Most home-improvement projects require a permit, including addition, repair, or replacement of load-bearing structures and additions or changes to plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical wiring.

Scope of work

Permit?

Replacement of water heaters if there is no change in fuel, energy source, location, capacity, or routing of venting and piping

Exempt

Repair or replacement of electrical devices and fixtures of the same type

Exempt

Minor alterations not involving the listed structural or system changes and costing less than $15,000

Exempt

Exempt Replacement of water heaters if there is no change in fuel, energy source, location, capacity, or routing of venting and piping
Exempt Repair or replacement of electrical devices and fixtures of the same type
Exempt Minor alterations not involving the listed structural or system changes and costing less than $15,000

Required documents

Completed building permit application
Accessibility letter from the zoning jurisdiction showing water/sewer availability if applicable or well/septic permit or waiver from Environmental Health
Zoning approval
Lien agent and workers compensation information if project cost exceeds $30,000

Building code: NC State Building Code (2018 code basis with current state amendments).
Permit validity: Permit expires 6 months after issuance if work has not commenced. If work stops for 12 months after commencement, the permit expires immediately.
Owner-builder: Union County publishes an Owner Exemption Affidavit in its residential resources.
Contractor requirements: NC licensed general contractor required for projects of $40,000 or more. NC electrical contractor license rules apply.

§ 03

Application process

Typical processing: Union County says inspections are typically completed the day requested, though high demand may carry them forward.

01

Determine zoning and development requirements with Union County Planning if the project is in unincorporated county territory.
02

Prepare the building permit package and submit it through Evolve or in person.
03

Include zoning approval, accessibility/utility or well/septic documentation, and lien agent/workers compensation information if over the county threshold.
04

Pay the county permit fees and receive issuance after review.
05

Schedule inspections in Evolve or by phone until final approval.

Typical processing time: Union County says inspections are typically completed the day requested, though high demand may carry them forward.

Source: Union County Building Code Enforcement; Union County Planning and Zoning ↗

§ 04

Fee schedule

Union County building permit fees

Fee type

Amount

Minimum permit fee

$100

Plan check fee

Commercial plan review fee line items are included in the county building fee schedule.

Permit fee formula

Residential new/addition permits are square-foot based. Detached unheated structures use lower square-foot rates. Commercial and trade permits use occupancy and trade schedules.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection $120; extra inspection $100; starting work without permit double permit fee; expired-permit reissue charges apply per schedule.

Penalty (no permit)

Double permit fee for starting work without permit.

County portal supports online applications, inspection requests, and public permit search. Do not create duplicate accounts.

Fees change periodically. Confirm at the official fee schedule ↗ before budgeting.

§ 05

Required inspections

Scheduling and sequence

How to schedule

704-283-3816 (phone)
Evolve Portal (online)

Time windows: County says inspections are typically completed the day requested when workload allows.

Typical sequence: Standard county building/trade sequence by project scope. County residential guidance and city analogs commonly include footing, foundation, under-slab/slab, rough-ins, insulation, and finals.

§ 06

Frequently asked

Common questions about unincorporated Union County permits

01 Do I need a building permit in unincorporated Union County, NC? ▸

02 How much does a building permit cost in unincorporated Union County, NC? ▸

Building permit fees in unincorporated Union County, NC are set by the local building department and vary by project type and valuation. The minimum permit fee is $100. Fees are calculated as: Residential new/addition permits are square-foot based. Detached unheated structures use lower square-foot rates. Commercial and trade permits use occupancy and trade schedules.. Plan check fee: Commercial plan review fee line items are included in the county building fee schedule..

03 How do I apply for a building permit in unincorporated Union County, NC? ▸

To apply for a building permit in unincorporated Union County, NC, follow these steps: 1. Determine zoning and development requirements with Union County Planning if the project is in unincorporated county territory. 2. Prepare the building permit package and submit it through Evolve or in person. 3. Include zoning approval, accessibility/utility or well/septic documentation, and lien agent/workers compensation information if over the county threshold. 4. Pay the county permit fees and receive issuance after review. 5. Schedule inspections in Evolve or by phone until final approval.

04 How long does it take to get a building permit in unincorporated Union County, NC? ▸

Building permit processing times in unincorporated Union County, NC typically run Union County says inspections are typically completed the day requested, though high demand may carry them forward.. Timelines can vary based on project complexity and current department workload.

05 What work is exempt from building permits in unincorporated Union County, NC? ▸

Not all construction work requires a permit in unincorporated Union County, NC. The following work is generally exempt: Replacement of water heaters if there is no change in fuel, energy source, location, capacity, or routing of venting and piping; Repair or replacement of electrical devices and fixtures of the same type; Minor alterations not involving the listed structural or system changes and costing less than $15,000. When in doubt, confirm with the local building department before starting work.

06 How do I schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Union County, NC? ▸

Once your permit is issued and work reaches an inspection milestone, you can schedule a building inspection in unincorporated Union County, NC via: 704-283-3816, Evolve Portal.

last verified April 2026 source Union County Building Code Enforcement; Union County Planning and Zoning ↗ entry id permits/north-carolina/union/unincorporated

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Educational reference. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with Union County Building Code Enforcement; Union County Planning and Zoning before applying. Jaspector is not legal advice.

Unincorporated Union County