City Building Permits

Town of Matthews, NORTH-CAROLINA Building Permit Guide

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

North Carolina Mecklenburg County Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Matthews splits review responsibility. Mecklenburg County is responsible for permanent sign permit intake, plan review, issuance, and inspections, while the Town conducts zoning review. The Town also handles temporary signs directly.

Department
Town of Matthews Planning and Development Department for local zoning review; Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement for permanent sign permit intake, final review, issuance, and inspections, and for County building permits generally
Address
Town of Matthews, 232 Matthews Station Street, Matthews, NC 28105; Mecklenburg County LUESA, 2145 Suttle Ave., Charlotte, NC 28208
Phone
Matthews Planning and Development 704-847-4411; Mecklenburg County 980-314-2633
Website
https://www.matthewsnc.gov/pview.aspx?id=20803

Online Permit Portal

Open Accela Citizen Access (Mecklenburg County)

Platform: Accela Citizen Access / AccelaMeck • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Submit the permanent sign permit application in Mecklenburg County Accela. Matthews states all permanent sign permit applications begin in the County online system.
  2. Upload sign drawings and required documents to the County application.
  3. Send the same sign drawings and required contact/project information to the Matthews Planning and Development Department for zoning compliance review.
  4. Pay the Town's local zoning review fee.
  5. After Town zoning approval, upload or otherwise provide the stamped zoning approval documents back through the County workflow.
  6. Mecklenburg County completes final review and issues the permanent sign permit.
  7. Schedule permanent sign inspections through the County Accela system.

Typical processing time: Matthews' current sign instruction sheet does not state a fixed turnaround for permanent signs.

Source: Town of Matthews Planning and Development Department for local zoning review; Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement for permanent sign permit intake, final review, issuance, and inspections, and for County building permits generally

General Requirements

Permanent signs require County sign permit intake plus Town zoning review. Temporary signs are reviewed directly by Matthews and do not require a County permit. For broader building permits, County permit rules apply and Matthews zoning review may also be required depending on project type.

Required Documents

  • County Accela application
  • Sign drawings
  • Responsible person or contractor contact information
  • Project address
  • Business name
  • Town zoning-review materials
Permit validity
County permit validity should be confirmed with Mecklenburg County.
Building code
Mecklenburg County enforces the NC State Building Code; Matthews applies local zoning compliance through Planning and Development.
Owner-builder
County homeowner rules apply for owner-builders using County permit systems.
Contractor requirements
Sign applications may be submitted by the sign contractor. State licensing rules apply to any trade permits required in County review.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$25 zoning review fee per permanent sign
Plan check fee
County zoning commercial plan review for Matthews is charged on a sliding scale under the County fee ordinance
Permit fee formula
Mixed. Matthews permanent-sign zoning review is a flat $25 per sign. County zoning commercial plan review for Matthews is valuation-based, and County code permit fees are separate.
Reinspection fee
County reinspection and inspection fees apply on County-issued permits
Payment note
Matthews allows payment by phone, in person, or by mail for the Town fee. County fees are processed through County workflows.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Temporary signs do not require a County permit, but Matthews review is still required

Important: Permanent signs always require Town zoning review before County issuance. Other building-permit exemptions follow Mecklenburg County and state permit rules unless Town zoning independently applies.

Inspections

How to Schedule

Inspection hours
Matthews Town Hall contact hours are regular municipal business hours; County permit pages list County business hours as Mon-Fri 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Typical inspection sequence: County application, Town zoning review, Town fee payment, County final review, County permit issuance, County inspection

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Town of Matthews Planning and Development Department for local zoning review; Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement for permanent sign permit intake, final review, issuance, and inspections, and for County building permits generally 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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