Gastonia, NC Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted code
- North Carolina Plumbing Code
- Per-fixture fee
- $3.50 per fixture
- No-fixture permit fee
- $11.50 flat
- Sewer connection add-on
- $5.00 per inspection
- Extra inspection fee
- $10.00 per trip
- Inspection request deadline
- Filed before 9:30 a.m. for same-day
Summary
Gastonia enforces the North Carolina Plumbing Code adopted by Sec. 16-28 for every plumbing installation in the city, and Sec. 16-102 sets the permit fee at $3.50 per fixture, plus $5.00 for any sewer-connection inspection and an $11.50 minimum charge even when no fixtures are installed.
Sec. 16-28. Plumbing code adopted. The North Carolina Plumbing Code as enacted and published by the North Carolina Building Code Council and as modified by the cumulative supplements thereto and the amendments adopted by the North Carolina Building Code Council, is hereby adopted by reference as fully as though set forth herein as the plumbing code for the city. ... (a) Before issuing a plumbing permit, a fee of $3.50 per fixture shall be paid to the city. Whenever a permit is required where no fixtures are installed, a fee of $11.50 shall be paid. An additional fee of $5.00 shall be paid for each permit requiring a sewer connection inspection. No permit shall be issued for less than $11.50.
Full Breakdown
Sec. " Sec. 16-34(b) requires every building or dwelling intended for human habitation to have its plumbing, plumbing systems, and fixtures installed, altered, or repaired according to that adopted code. Sec. to get same-day service. Sec. 50 total. Sec. 16-102(b) requires a permit for specific changes even without new fixtures: converting a septic tank to sanitary sewer, replacing or installing a hot water tank, changing terracotta sewer pipe to iron pipe, installing indirect waste, or moving any fixture from one location to another, each charged at the same fee schedule.
Sec. 00 per-trip fee for an extra inspection made necessary because a plumbing contractor failed to specify the work location properly or installed plumbing improperly, charged directly against that contractor. Sec. 16-62(1) confirms that paying the whole-building permit fee already covers the separate plumbing permit fee under Sec. 16-102.
Violations & Fines
Article II and Article IV set no specific fine for plumbing work performed without the required permit or inspection, so it falls to Gastonia's default penalty in Sec. 1-10: prosecution as a misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4. A contractor who forces a return trip through improperly specified or installed work also owes the $10.00 extra-inspection fee under Sec. 16-102(c), charged directly against that contractor or plumber.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Sources & Official References
Other rules in Gastonia
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