Union County Building Permit Guide (Unincorporated Area)

Permit Authority

Union County Building Code Enforcement has authority for issuing building permits in all parts of the county except Monroe and Waxhaw. For unincorporated areas, the county handles both zoning and building permitting.

Department

Union County Building Code Enforcement; Union County Planning and Zoning

Address

Building Code Enforcement: 500 N. Main Street, Suite 47, Monroe, NC 28112; Planning: 500 N. Main Street, Suite 70, Monroe, NC 28112

Phone

Building permits and inspections 704-283-3816; Planning 704-283-3565

Email

ucinspections@unioncountync.gov , ucplanning@unioncountync.gov

Website

https://www.unioncountync.gov/business/development-services

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Determine zoning and development requirements with Union County Planning if the project is in unincorporated county territory.
2. Prepare the building permit package and submit it through Evolve or in person.
3. Include zoning approval, accessibility/utility or well/septic documentation, and lien agent/workers compensation information if over the county threshold.
4. Pay the county permit fees and receive issuance after review.
5. Schedule inspections in Evolve or by phone until final approval.

Typical processing time: Union County says inspections are typically completed the day requested, though high demand may carry them forward.

Source: Union County Building Code Enforcement; Union County Planning and Zoning

General Requirements

Most home-improvement projects require a permit, including addition, repair, or replacement of load-bearing structures and additions or changes to plumbing, heating, air-conditioning, and electrical wiring.

Required Documents

• Completed building permit application
• Accessibility letter from the zoning jurisdiction showing water/sewer availability if applicable or well/septic permit or waiver from Environmental Health
• Zoning approval
• Lien agent and workers compensation information if project cost exceeds $30,000

Permit validity

Permit expires 6 months after issuance if work has not commenced. If work stops for 12 months after commencement, the permit expires immediately.

Building code

NC State Building Code (2018 code basis with current state amendments).

Owner-builder

Union County publishes an Owner Exemption Affidavit in its residential resources.

Contractor requirements

NC licensed general contractor required for projects of $40,000 or more. NC electrical contractor license rules apply.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$100

Plan check fee

Commercial plan review fee line items are included in the county building fee schedule.

Permit fee formula

Residential new/addition permits are square-foot based. Detached unheated structures use lower square-foot rates. Commercial and trade permits use occupancy and trade schedules.

Reinspection fee

Reinspection $120; extra inspection $100; starting work without permit double permit fee; expired-permit reissue charges apply per schedule.

Penalty (no permit)

Double permit fee for starting work without permit.

Payment note

County portal supports online applications, inspection requests, and public permit search. Do not create duplicate accounts.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Replacement of water heaters if there is no change in fuel, energy source, location, capacity, or routing of venting and piping
• Repair or replacement of electrical devices and fixtures of the same type
• Minor alterations not involving the listed structural or system changes and costing less than $15,000

Inspections

How to Schedule

• 704-283-3816 (phone)
• Evolve Portal (online)

Time windows

County says inspections are typically completed the day requested when workload allows.

Typical inspection sequence: Standard county building/trade sequence by project scope. County residential guidance and city analogs commonly include footing, foundation, under-slab/slab, rough-ins, insulation, and finals.

Additional Resources

• Building code: NC State Building Code (2018 code basis with current state amendments).
• Verify contractor license: NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Development Services
• Building Code Enforcement
• Residential Building
• Evolve Public Portal
• License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub