Chatham County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Chatham County directly issues building permits and performs inspections in unincorporated areas. County zoning also applies in zoned areas outside the planning jurisdictions of Pittsboro, Siler City, Goldston, and Cary.

Department

Chatham County Central Permitting and Building Inspections

Address

80 East Street, Pittsboro, NC 27312

Phone

919-542-8293 or 919-545-8403

Email

building.permits@chathamcountync.gov

Website

https://www.chathamcountync.gov/government/departments-programs-a-h/central-permitting-inspections

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning, floodplain, erosion control, subdivision, watershed, septic, well, and access requirements with the county departments that apply to the parcel.
2. Choose the correct county permit application and submittal checklist from the Applications and Inspections Documents and Forms page.
3. Submit through OpenGov or with county Central Permitting, uploading plans and supporting documents.
4. Add any required outside approvals, such as septic or well approvals, erosion control plan approval, floodplain or sign materials, and contractor or workers compensation information.
5. Respond to county review comments, pay fees, and receive the permit.
6. Schedule county inspections during construction and complete finals for CO or CC issuance.

Typical processing time: Chatham County does not publish a general countywide permit turnaround on the public pages reviewed. Under G.S. 160D-1110, if the county reviews residential building plans for permit issuance, initial review must be completed within 15 business days.

Source: Chatham County Central Permitting and Building Inspections

General Requirements

County permits are required for construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, demolition, and trade work described in G.S. 160D-1110. County forms also cover mobile homes, demolition, signs, conditional power, solar, and related permit types.

Required Documents

• County residential and commercial construction permit applications
• Residential and commercial plan submittal requirements
• Swimming pool acknowledgement
• Permit revision form
• Mobile home permit application
• Demolition permit application
• Ag exempt application
• Shell scope form
• Owner builder statement
• Workers compensation verification
• Add or change contractor form
• Conditional power form
• Solar checklist
• Signs permit submittal

Permit validity

Chatham County posts Permit Expiration Dates effective 2024-01-01 at https://www.chathamcountync.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/65960/638368482079000000. Because the linked PDF was not text-readable in the source set reviewed, confirm exact lapse and reinstatement rules directly with Central Permitting.

Building code

2018 North Carolina State Building Code and related state codes

Owner-builder

The county publishes an Owner Builder Statement form. Owners using a licensure exemption should expect affidavit requirements under NC contractor licensing law and county form requirements.

Contractor requirements

NC general contractor license required for projects of $40,000 or more. Chatham County also collects contractor and workers compensation information. Electrical contractor licensing follows state law.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

Trade permits are $75 per trade or $100 minimum in the schedule categories that use that rule. New dwelling minimum is $400.

Plan check fee

Residential new construction plan review $100. Residential addition, accessory, alteration, or re-review $60. Commercial new, addition, or alteration under 2,500 square feet $100; 2,501 to 20,000 square feet $100 per trade; 20,000 plus square feet $0.02 per square foot. Express commercial plan review is $1,000 per hour with 1-hour minimum.

Permit fee formula

Mixed. Examples include new dwelling or house move at $0.30 per square foot with $400 minimum; accessory buildings and additions by square-foot tier; many alterations at flat fees; commercial permits by construction-cost tier.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection fee 2 to 5 failed inspections $60 each; 6 to 9 failed inspections $75 each; 10 plus failed inspections $125 each. Remove stop work order $60 per inspection trip. Extra inspection trip $60. Reinstate permit $60. Change of contractor $25. Conditional power $60. Demolition permit $60.

Penalty (no permit)

Work without permit doubles the permit fee.

Payment note

Chatham County states it does not accept cash or check after 4:00 p.m. and adds 2.99% plus $0.99 to any credit card transaction. Education impact fees also apply where required, such as $3,500 for single-family detached, attached, mobile, or modular dwellings and $1,100 for multi-family, duplex, or accessory dwelling categories on the county schedule.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Work costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building may be exempt under G.S. 160D-1110(c) if it is performed to code and does not involve the listed exception categories.
• No permit is required for replacement of windows, doors, exterior siding, or porch and exterior-deck pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking when load-bearing structures are not being added, repaired, or replaced.
• No permit is required for plumbing replacements that do not change size or capacity.
• No permit is required for like-kind electrical device and lighting fixture replacement in the covered residential context when state statutory licensed-trade conditions are met.
• A permit is not required for certain replacement water heaters in one- or two-family dwellings when the statutory same-location, same-or-less-capacity, same-fuel, same-routing, and licensed-trade conditions are met.
• New roofing, structural work, additions or design changes to plumbing, HVAC, or electrical systems, use of non-code materials, and changes that trigger the Fire Code remain permit-required even if project cost is $40,000 or less.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• OpenGov portal (online)
• 919-542-8293 or 919-545-8403 (phone)
• Customer service email (email)

Scheduling deadline

Commercial finals must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance.

Inspection hours

County office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: County inspections cover building, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, insulation, modular and mobile home setup, and addressing compliance. For residential projects, all trade rough-ins must be approved before framing, and all trade finals must be approved before building final. Commercial finals are appointment based and include building and fire inspectors and may include zoning and others.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2018 North Carolina State Building Code and related state codes
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Building Inspections
• Contact Us
• FAQs
• Chatham County GIS Services
• License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub