County Building Permits

Randolph County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

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

North Carolina Updated March 2026

Permit Authority

Randolph County issues permits and performs inspections in unincorporated county areas and also serves several municipalities. For unincorporated county parcels, county zoning clearance comes from Randolph County Planning and Zoning.

Department
Randolph County Department of Building Inspections
Address
204 East Academy Street, Asheboro, NC 27203
Phone
336-318-6565
Website
https://www.randolphcountync.gov/161/Building-Inspections

Online Permit Portal

Open eSuite ePermits

Platform: eSuite ePermits • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only

Application Process

  1. Obtain a zoning permit from Randolph County Planning and Development. A zoning permit with a $25 fee must be obtained from Randolph County Planning and Development unless the property lies in a city zoning jurisdiction.
  2. Gather any required outside approvals, such as well/septic, mobile home tax certification, engineered plans, or other project-specific approvals.
  3. Submit the applicable county permit application online through ePermits, by email, or in person. Randolph County posts general construction, demolition, consultation, and trade permit applications.
  4. Pay the permit fees. ePermits supports billing and payment; county staff also process permits through the office.
  5. Receive the permit, post it on site, and schedule inspections by phone or ePermits.
  6. Complete inspections and obtain the certificate of occupancy or compliance.

Typical processing time: State requires initial residential plan review within 15 business days where residential plan review is performed

Source: Randolph County Department of Building Inspections

General Requirements

Randolph County requires permits before construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, demolition, and most electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work, subject to North Carolina statutory exemptions.

Required Documents

  • County permit application
  • Zoning clearance
  • Applicant and contractor information
  • Address and project description
  • Additional outside approvals as applicable
  • Plans when required
Permit validity
North Carolina building permits lapse after 6 months of inactivity under G.S. 160D-1114. Randolph County posts a $30 fee to reopen expired permits up to 6 years old.
Building code
North Carolina State Building Code as enforced by Randolph County. OSFM's current-codes pages show the 2018 code family in force pending the delayed 2024 rollout.
Owner-builder
Homeowners may perform certain residential trade work themselves in the specific circumstances described in the applications. Owner-exempt state permits require owner presence for inspection unless sealed plans are used under G.S. 160D-1114.
Contractor requirements
State law requires a licensed general contractor for projects costing $40,000 or more. Electrical work requiring licensure must be by a properly licensed electrical contractor. County permit issuance also depends on required specialty licenses.

Fees

Minimum permit fee
$60 minimum building permit fee for work up to and including $20,000; $60 trade base fee
Plan check fee
$100 residential; $300 commercial
Permit fee formula
Building permits are valuation-based using ICC Building Valuation Data for new construction and county-approved project cost valuations for alterations/repairs. Electrical permits are based on service size and low-voltage categories; plumbing permits on fixture counts; HVAC permits on number of units; mobile home and modular setup permits use flat schedules.
Reinspection fee
Rejection fee $30 residential and $60 commercial; reopen expired permit $30; demolition permit $75 residential and $150 commercial; consultation inspections $50 residential and $100 commercial; permit fees doubled if issued after commencement of work
Payment note
County permits may be paid through ePermits billing/payment or through the permitting office; zoning permit fee for county-jurisdiction sites is listed as $25 on the county application form

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

  • Construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building, unless the work involves load-bearing structures, changes plumbing design, changes HVAC or electrical design, uses non-code materials, adds roofing rather than replacing roofing, or involves fire-code work
  • Like-kind replacement of electrical lighting fixtures or devices in one- and two-family dwellings by a licensed person under the statutory conditions
  • Water-heater replacement in one- and two-family dwellings under the statutory conditions
  • Utility load-control device work by electric power suppliers or their contracted electrical contractors under the statutory exemption

Inspections

How to Schedule

  • Randolph County (phone)
  • ePermits (online)
Scheduling deadline
Have the permit number ready before calling
Inspection hours
Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm
Time windows
Inspectors can be reached 8 to 9 am and 4 to 5 pm

Typical inspection sequence: County does not post a simple text chart, but standard flow typically includes footing/foundation or slab, rough framing and rough trade inspections, insulation where applicable, and final inspections.

Live remote inspections available for certain eligible inspections: sewer/water trench up to 100 feet, gas line pressure tests, wall sheathing, insulation, shower pan, and some re-inspections

Additional Resources

Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Randolph County Department of Building Inspections before applying.

Need help with your project?

Navigating permits in Unincorporated Randolph County can be complicated.

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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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