Craven County, NC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- Craven County Code § 8-2
- Enforcing office
- County Inspection Department
- Application
- 3 complete plan copies required
- Late-start fee
- Extra fee if work begun before permit
- Civil penalty
- $500 per violation, accrues daily (§ 1-11)
- State authority
- G.S. 153A-357
Summary
In unincorporated Craven County, no one may erect, construct or alter a building or structure until the Inspection Department (Planning and Inspections) issues a building permit under Craven County Code § 8-2. Applicants file a detailed application with three complete copies of plans; the department issues the permit once the state building code and fees are satisfied.
(a)The erection, construction or alteration of any building, structure, or part thereof shall not be commenced until a building permit shall have been issued by the inspection department pursuant to the authority contained in G.S. 153A-357, pertaining to permits. ... (d)If it shall appear to the staff of the inspection department that the proposed construction meets the requirements of the state building code, and all required fees have been paid, the department shall issue the building permit.(e)If the construction for which the applicant seeks a building permit has already begun at the time the permit is sought, an additional administrative fee may be assessed in addition to the regular permit fee, all as fixed by the schedule adopted by the board of commissioners from time to time.
Full Breakdown
S. 153A-357. The applicant submits an application on the department's own forms with a detailed statement of specifications, accompanied by three full and complete copies of all plans for the proposed work. The Board of Commissioners sets the fee schedule from time to time; it is kept on file both in the Inspection Department office and the county clerk's office. Once the staff finds the proposed construction meets the state building code and all required fees are paid, the permit issues. If work has already begun before the permit is sought, § 8-2(e) lets the county assess an additional administrative fee on top of the regular permit fee, again set by the schedule the Board of Commissioners adopts.
ch. 153A, art. 18, pt. 4. 00 civil penalty per violation that keeps accruing daily until it is remedied and paid, collectible as a civil debt, alongside equitable remedies such as injunctive relief.
Violations & Fines
Beginning erection, construction or alteration of a building before the Inspection Department issues a permit violates Craven County Code § 8-2, punishable under § 8-3. That penalty routes to the Code's general enforcement section, § 1-11: a $500.00 civil penalty accruing for each day the violation continues, recoverable as a civil debt, plus equitable remedies including injunctive relief under § 1-11(b). Work started before a permit is obtained also triggers an added administrative fee under § 8-2(e).
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build or alter a structure in unincorporated Craven County?
What does a Craven County building permit application require?
What happens if construction starts before the permit is issued?
What is the penalty for building without a permit in Craven County?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Craven County
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