State Building Permits

North Carolina Building Permit Guides

Permit authority, application process, fees, and requirements for counties and cities across North Carolina. Select your county to find your local permit guide.

28 Counties 215 Jurisdictions Updated March 2026

How North Carolina Permitting Works

North Carolina enforces the North Carolina State Building Code, which is mandatory statewide and based on the International Building Code (IBC) with state amendments. All construction projects that require a permit must comply with these statewide standards.

Building permits are issued at the local level — either by the city or county building inspections department, depending on where the property is located. Many smaller municipalities contract with their county for inspections and permit issuance. Some jurisdictions use shared online portals such as OpenGov, GovBuilt, or iWorQ.

Select your county below, then choose your city or unincorporated area for the permit office, application links, fees, required documents, and inspection process that apply to your project.

North Carolina Counties

Anson County 7 jurisdictions → Buncombe County 8 jurisdictions → Cabarrus County 9 jurisdictions → Chatham County 8 jurisdictions → Cumberland County 10 jurisdictions → Davidson County 7 jurisdictions → Davie County 4 jurisdictions → Durham County 2 jurisdictions → Forsyth County 9 jurisdictions → Franklin County 6 jurisdictions → Gaston County 12 jurisdictions → Guilford County 11 jurisdictions → Henderson County 7 jurisdictions → Hoke County 3 jurisdictions → Iredell County 7 jurisdictions → Johnston County 12 jurisdictions → Lincoln County 7 jurisdictions → Madison County 4 jurisdictions → Mecklenburg County 8 jurisdictions → Orange County 5 jurisdictions → Person County 4 jurisdictions → Randolph County 9 jurisdictions → Rockingham County 7 jurisdictions → Rowan County 12 jurisdictions → Stokes County 5 jurisdictions → Union County 13 jurisdictions → Wake County 14 jurisdictions → Yadkin County 5 jurisdictions →

Related North Carolina Resources

Contract Template Free North Carolina homeowner-contractor agreement → License Requirements Verify your contractor's NC license →

Statewide Resources

  • NC Department of Insurance — Engineering Division: Administers the NC State Building Code and oversees local enforcement agencies.
  • NC Licensing Board for General Contractors: All general contractors on projects over $30,000 must be licensed. Verify at nclbgc.org.
  • NC State Building Code Council: Adopts and amends the statewide building code.

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with your local inspections department before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating North Carolina building permits can be complicated.

Jaspector connects you with local experts who can review your scope, verify your contractor, and help you understand what permits your project actually needs.

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Important: This page is an educational resource provided by jaspector.com. It is not legal advice, and it does not substitute for official guidance from your local permit authority or the NC Department of Insurance Engineering Division. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change frequently. Always verify current requirements directly with the issuing department before beginning any construction project. Use of this page does not create an attorney-client relationship. Jaspector assumes no liability for any outcomes arising from reliance on this information.