Iredell County Code Enforcement

Appropriate permits are required for any building construction, alteration, or repair involving new or changed uses of property (other than ordinary repairs). Separate permits are required for building, electrical, heating, air conditioning and plumbing work. EXCEPTION: Permits shall not be required for any work costing five thousand dollars or less on one and two family dwellings, unless the work involves:

• The addition, repair, or replacement of load bearing structures;
• The addition or change in the design of a plumbing system;
• The addition, replacement or change in the design of a heating or air conditioning system;
• The addition, replacement or change in the design of an electrical system;
• The use of materials not permitted by the code

Permit fees are usually calculated based on the occupancy and gross square footage area of a building. There are separate calculations used for new construction and renovations or upfits. There are also separate fee structures for Commercial buildings and One and Two Family buildings. See our Fee Schedule for additional information on how the permit fees are calculated.

Permits expire six (6) months (180 days) after issue date if no work has commenced. Permits also expire when work has started but discontinued for twelve (12) months (365 days) from the last inspection date.

Inspectors will check to make sure that work is done according to code. Contractors or homeowners doing their own work must call to arrange for each inspection. Call 704-878-3113 to arrange for inspections through the department's automated interactive voice response (IVR) system. This system can be used to request inspections, obtain inspection results, cancel an inspection or check the status of a certificate of occupancy. You can also use our online options to Request Inspections, Verify or Cancel Inspections or to Get Inspection Results.

All commercial building projects must be submitted for plan review before permits can be issued. See our Information Packet for Commercial Projects for additional information on the plan submittal and review process. Plans for one and two family dwelling are not generally required to be submitted for plans review, however a complete set of plans are required to be kept on the job site for the inspector’s use during the project.

Plans and specifications sealed by a licensed architect or registered engineer are required for any new building, building addition or alteration to an existing building, with the exception of one or two family dwellings. Plans are reviewed within the department and by other City and County agencies as required. See our Plans Submittal Requirements for additional information regarding the types of plans generally required for commercial projects.

All projects submitted for plan review and all permits issued on or after July 1, 2009 must meet the requirements of the 2009 edition of the North Carolina Building Codes with the exception of electrical permits. All electrical permits must meet the requirements of the 2008 edition of the North Carolina Electrical Code.