Davidson County, NC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- new commercial construction, additions, occupancy changes
- Reviewing office
- Central Permitting
- Plan review fee
- $50 to $500 by building size
- Unauthorized work penalty
- double the normal permit fee
- Applies in
- unincorporated Davidson County only
- Permit valid until
- final inspection and certificate of compliance
Summary
Davidson County requires a building permit before any new commercial construction, addition, alteration, or occupancy change begins in the unincorporated county. Under Code of Ordinances § 98.045, the applicant must file a permit application and supporting plans with Central Permitting, which reviews the submission against the N.C. Building and Technical Codes before construction can start.
A person or entity wishing to make application for new commercial building construction, repair, alteration, change of occupancy, or addition, to an existing building; or alteration or modification of an existing building service system shall first complete and submit the required permit application along with required documentation to Central Permitting for review. Documents shall be reviewed for compliance against the N.C. Building and Technical Codes.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2024 S-15: Supplement contains: Local legislation current through Ordinance passed 4-22-2024; and State legislation through 2023 North Carolina Legislative Service, Pamphlet No. 6).
Full Breakdown
006); Lexington, Thomasville, and the county's other towns issue their own permits. 045 requires the permit applicant to submit a completed permit application and required documentation to Central Permitting before construction, repair, alteration, change of occupancy, or an addition to an existing building, or before altering a building's service systems. 046(A) lists what Central Permitting expects on all commercial projects based on the scope of work: a scope-of-work statement, the commercial plan review application, a completed Appendix B building code summary, a site plan, a structural plan, a life safety plan, and a project value letter.
Plan review fees run from $50 for projects up to 5,000 square feet to $500 for projects over one million square feet, set out in Appendix A. § 160D-1111. 056 requires the holder to re-pay the original permit fee to reinstate it. § 160D-1114.
Violations & Fines
Starting commercial construction, alteration, or a service-system change without first securing the § 98.045 permit is an unlawful act under § 98.073, punishable under § 98.999's civil-penalty, equitable, and injunctive remedies; unpaid civil penalties become collectible as debt after 30 business days under G.S. § 153A-123(c). Section 98.057 also doubles the normal permit fee for any work that starts before Central Permitting approves it or without the Code Official's knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this county permit apply if I build inside Lexington or Thomasville?
What has to be submitted with a commercial building permit application?
What happens if I start work before the permit is approved?
How long does a Davidson County commercial building permit last?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Davidson County
Compare Davidson County to another location·View the North Carolina building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.