Forsyth County, NC Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- National Electrical Code, § 7-2
- Inspectors
- City of Winston-Salem electrical inspectors
- Pool wiring fee
- $138.00 (§ 7-101)
- Service change fee
- $84 residential / $102 commercial
- After-hours fee
- $200 first 2 hrs, $100/hr after
- Penalty
- Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $500/30 days
Summary
Unincorporated Forsyth County enforces electrical work through the North Carolina State Building Codes and National Electrical Code adopted in section 7-2, with the City of Winston-Salem's own electrical inspectors designated as county electrical inspectors under section 7-100 to collect fees, inspect wiring, and enforce the code.
(Sec. 7-2) As is consistent with the North Carolina General Statutes, the North Carolina State Building Codes, and the National Electrical Code as adopted by the Building Code Council, as amended from time to time, shall constitute the building codes applicable in the county These adopted codes and amendments thereto shall constitute the building codes applicable to the areas of the county outside of the corporate limits of the City of Winston-Salem and the Town of Kernersville. (Sec. 7-100) The electrical inspectors of the City of Winston-Salem are hereby designated as county electrical inspectors to perform inspection services, collect inspection fees and enforce the electrical regulations referred to and provided for in this chapter, and such services shall be performed by the inspections division of the Planning and Development Services Department of the City of Winston-Salem, subject to the approval of the City Council of the City of Winston-Salem and the execution of an appropriate agreement between the County and the City of Winston-Salem.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 68).
Full Breakdown
Section 7-2 of the Forsyth County Code adopts the North Carolina State Building Codes and the National Electrical Code, as amended by the Building Code Council from time to time, as the building codes governing the areas of the county outside Winston-Salem's and Kernersville's corporate limits. Section 7-100 hands enforcement to the same office that regulates the city: the City of Winston-Salem's electrical inspectors are designated county electrical inspectors, performing inspection services, collecting fees, and enforcing electrical regulations through the Planning and Development Services Department's inspections division, under an agreement approved by both the Winston-Salem City Council and the county. 00 line item. 00 each additional hour.
Violations & Fines
Electrical work performed without the permit these sections require is punishable under the chapter's general penalty at section 7-6 as a Class 1 misdemeanor, up to $500.00 and 30 days in jail, and section 7-5 doubles the applicable fee once the inspection division finds work completed without a permit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What electrical code does Forsyth County enforce?
Who inspects electrical work in unincorporated Forsyth County?
Does wiring a swimming pool need its own electrical permit?
What's the penalty for electrical work done without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Forsyth County
Compare Forsyth 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.