City Building Permits

Town of Kernersville, NORTH-CAROLINA Building Permit Guide

How to apply for a building permit in Town of Kernersville, North Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

North Carolina Forsyth County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Kernersville issues and inspects its own permits rather than using Winston-Salem/Forsyth County.

Department
Development Services Division, Community Development Department
Address
134 East Mountain Street, Kernersville, NC 27284
Phone
336-996-7166
Website
https://toknc.com/community-development/development/

Online Permit Portal

Open ViewPoint Online Permitting System

Platform: ViewPoint • Account required: Yes • Submission: Online only

Additional resources:

Application Process

  1. Identify the permit type on the Development Services permit page.
  2. Create a ViewPoint account and start the application under the correct category.
  3. Upload plans/documents and submit for review.
  4. Pay the calculated fees through the portal.
  5. Track review comments and approvals in ViewPoint.
  6. Request inspections through the same system until final approval.

Source: Development Services Division, Community Development Department

General Requirements

Kernersville requires building permits for new residential construction, residential structural alterations, swimming pools, manufactured home setups, and commercial construction/structural alterations; trade permits are required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work; business openings may require use and occupancy, sign, or home occupation permits.

Required Documents

  • Application package
  • Plans uploaded in ViewPoint
Permit validity
Expired permit renewal requires full fee.
Building code
North Carolina statewide code framework; Kernersville enforces the NC State Building Code and related state trade codes.
Contractor requirements
State licensure applies; portal use for trade permits is structured around contractor permitting.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
Many basic permits are $100; examples include basic building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical permits
Plan check fee
Commercial plan review ranges from $125 to $500 depending on size
Permit fee formula
Mixed. Residential construction is square-foot based; many commercial fees are square-foot based with base fees; numerous permits are flat-fee.
Reinspection fee
$50 reinspection fee after first fail
Penalty (no permit)
Stop work order $280; work prior to permit issuance/occupancy before Certificate of Occupancy $300 plus double permit fee
Payment note
Kernersville states associated fees can be paid online by major credit card through ViewPoint.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Limited state-law ordinary repairs that do not trigger structural, plumbing design, HVAC/electrical design, roofing-addition, fire-code, or non-code-material issues
  • State-law exempt window, door, siding, and similar porch/deck surface replacements within the ordinary-repair allowance
  • Certain like-kind residential electrical fixture/device replacements allowed by state law without permit
  • Certain like-kind residential water-heater replacement connections allowed by state law without permit

Inspections

How to Schedule

Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: plan review, permit issuance, trade/building inspections as applicable, final approval/use and occupancy closeout as needed

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Development Services Division, Community Development Department before applying.

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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 the permit authority listed above. 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.

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