County Building Permits

Hoke County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

How to apply for a building permit in unincorporated Hoke County, North Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.

North Carolina Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Hoke County Planning / Zoning applies to development and use of land and structures in the unincorporated areas of Hoke County that lie outside the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the City of Raeford.

Department: Hoke County Planning / Zoning and Hoke County Inspections
Address: 423 E Central Avenue, Raeford, NC 28376
Phone: 910-875-8407
Email: jlowery@hokecounty.org , aconnor@hokecounty.org , slocklear@hokecounty.org , dwright@hokecounty.org , kblack@hokecounty.org
Website: https://www.hokecounty.net/241/Planning-Zoning

Online Permit Portal

Open Hoke County Permits Portal

Platform: iWorQ • Account required: No • Submission: In-person only

Additional resources:

Application Process

Determine whether the parcel is in unincorporated Hoke County outside the Raeford ETJ. If so, county planning and county inspections are the controlling local permit authorities.
Apply for the county zoning and development permit when required. The zoning ordinance page states no land may be used or occupied and no building may be altered, erected, moved, used, or have its use changed until a zoning permit is issued.
Prepare the inspections permit application and plans. Hoke County requires two residential plan sets and four commercial plan sets plus one PDF CD for commercial plan review.
Submit the package to Hoke County Inspections at 423 E Central Avenue, Raeford.
County staff review the submittal. The county posts usual review times of 1 to 3 working days for single-family residences and 7 to 10 working days for commercial projects.
Pay fees using cash, check, or money order before permit issuance. The county states no permits are issued after 4:30 PM.
Request inspections through iWorQ or by phone. Requests received before 4:30 PM can be placed on the next business day's schedule.

Typical processing time: Single-family residence: 1 to 3 working days; commercial: 7 to 10 working days; special or large commercial as required.

Source: Hoke County Planning / Zoning and Hoke County Inspections

General Requirements

County zoning approval is required before use, occupancy, erection, movement, structural alteration, or change in use in the regulated unincorporated area. County inspections pages state permits are required for most building-code-regulated work. The number of exceptions is limited.

Required Documents

Zoning permit applications must include two copies of a scaled plan showing lot dimensions, rights-of-way, existing and proposed buildings, uses, parking, driveways, and other information the zoning administrator deems necessary
Inspections submittals require the county application form and plan sets, with additional commercial copies and PDF media for plan review

Permit validity: County zoning permits confer the right to proceed if the authorized action is commenced within 180 days and all other permits are obtained. The zoning permit lapses unless work starts within six months of issuance, or if work is suspended or abandoned for at least one year.
Building code: Hoke County states it enforces the building codes adopted by the State of North Carolina (currently 2018 North Carolina codes).
Owner-builder: Local webpages do not publish a separate owner-builder guide, but N.C.G.S. 87-14 requires an affidavit if the permit applicant claims the owner-builder exemption from GC licensure for qualifying work.
Contractor requirements: Licensed NC general contractor required for projects costing $40,000 or more unless exempt. Electrical contractors must be licensed by the state. County permit forms collect license numbers for the applicable building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical contractors.

Fees

Minimum permit fee: $40 for certain plumbing items under the inspections fee schedule; $100 for the county zoning and development permit
Plan check fee: Commercial plan review starts at $100 up to 5,000 square feet and rises to $800 above 40,000 square feet; certain trade-only and minor project reviews are $75; re-review after the first re-review is one-half of the original fee.
Permit fee formula: Mixed square-foot, valuation-based, and flat-fee schedule. Examples include a $200 non-refundable processing fee plus $0.35 per heated square foot for new residential building permits, $0.55 per commercial square foot or the graduated fee scale for commercial building permits, and flat fees for many trade permits.
Reinspection fee: 1st reinspection $60, 2nd $120, 3rd $140. Each additional reinspection doubles after the 3rd.
Penalty (no permit): All permit fees double if work begins without a permit.
Payment note: Payments accepted are cash, check, or money order. Permit issuance stops after 4:30 PM.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Hoke County Planning / Zoning and Hoke County Inspections to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

iWorQ Portal (online)
910-875-8407 (phone)

Scheduling deadline: Inspection requests received before 4:30 PM can be placed on the next business day's schedule.
Inspection hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Time windows: The iWorQ calendar displays request times from 7:00 AM through 4:55 PM.

Typical inspection sequence: Depending on project type, the county portal lists footing, foundation, slab prep, open floor, underground utilities, framing or rough-in, insulation rough-in and final, mechanical rough-in and final, plumbing rough-in and final, electrical rough-in and final, pre-final, final, and reinspection options.

Additional Resources

Building code: Hoke County states it enforces the building codes adopted by the State of North Carolina (currently 2018 North Carolina codes).
Verify contractor license: NC General Contractor Licensing Requirements
Zoning information: View zoning info
Permits & Approvals
Zoning Permit
Planning Fee Schedule
Applications
Permit Fees Schedule
Plan Review Fees
NC State Fire Marshal - Current Codes
N.C.G.S. 160D-1110 - Permit Exemptions
N.C.G.S. 87-14 - Owner-Builder Affidavit
License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Hoke County Planning / Zoning and Hoke County Inspections before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Unincorporated Hoke County 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.

Learn how Jaspector works

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.

← Back to Hoke County permit guides