Craven County, NC Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- County inspection department
- Inspector appointment
- By the county manager
- Plan copies required
- 3 full sets
- Fee schedule set by
- Board of commissioners
- Starting work before permit
- Triggers added administrative fee
Summary
Craven County's inspection department, staffed by inspectors the county manager appoints, must issue a building permit before any building or structure is erected, constructed or altered, provided the plans meet the state building code and all fees are paid. Starting work first triggers an added administrative fee.
There is created an inspection department for the county, which shall be staffed by one or more inspectors appointed by the county manager, who may be given the titles of building inspector, electrical inspector, plumbing inspector, housing inspector, zoning inspector, heating and air conditioning inspector, fire prevention inspector or deputy or assistant inspector, or such other titles as may be generally descriptive of the duties assigned, all as authorized by G.S. ch. 153A, art. 18, pt. 4 (building inspection). ... 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. ... 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.
Full Breakdown
S. Chapter 153A, Article 18, Part 4. S. 153A-357. Applicants submit a detailed statement of specifications along with three full and complete copies of all plans of the proposed work to the inspection department on the department's forms. The board of commissioners sets the fee schedule from time to time, and copies are kept on file at both the inspection department and the county clerk's office. Once the department's staff finds the proposed construction meets the state building code and all required fees are paid, it issues the permit.
If construction has already started before the permit is sought, the department may add an administrative fee on top of the regular permit fee, under a schedule the board of commissioners adopts from time to time.
Violations & Fines
Section 8-3 makes any violation of the building chapter punishable as set out in Sections 1-11 and 1-12 of the county code, the general penalty provisions, in addition to any other remedy the code or state law otherwise allows. Beginning construction before a permit issues does not excuse the requirement; it instead exposes the builder to an additional administrative fee on top of the standard permit fee.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit before building in unincorporated Craven County?
Who inspects buildings in unincorporated Craven County?
What happens if I start building before getting a Craven County permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Craven County
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