In Alexander County, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas permits come from the county Building Inspections office at 151 West Main Avenue, Taylorsville (828-632-1000), which is part of Planning & Development. Most projects need a county zoning permit first ($50 for a new single-family home), and residential inspections are normally carried out the next business day after you call.
What requires a permit in Alexander County?
The county asks applicants to work through three offices in order: Planning & Zoning decides whether a zoning permit is needed, Environmental Health decides whether a septic or well approval is needed, and Building Inspections issues the building and trade permits.
Zoning permit
- Any building, sign or other structure that is built, moved, extended, enlarged or structurally altered
- All structures with any dimension over 12 feet
- New homes and additions
- Mobile and manufactured homes
- Storage buildings and garages
- Pools
- A change in the land use of a property
- Permanent signs
Building and trade permits
- Residential and commercial buildings, additions and up-fits
- Decks and porches
- Detached accessory buildings and pole barns
- Manufactured home set-ups
- Swimming pools, spas and hot tubs
- Signs and cell towers
- Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas work
- Remodeling and fire restoration, using the county checklist
Planning & Development notes that certain farming structures and activities may be exempt from zoning; the office decides this case by case. No building permit is issued for a lot shown on a development plan until the final plat is approved and recorded, except for one structure on one lot.
Who handles permitting in Alexander County?
Alexander County Planning & Development covers Building Inspections, Planning and Zoning. Its inspectors handle all four trades the North Carolina Building Code Council sets out: building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing. Zoning staff approve zoning permits and manufactured home appearance permits, enforce the Land Development Code and coordinate subdivision review.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Taylorsville is the only incorporated town in the county. Its own Planning & Development page says the town contracts with Alexander County for zoning permits and enforcement and sends applicants to the county department at 828-632-1000; the town does not list a building inspection office of its own. The town code adopts the joint Alexander County/Town of Taylorsville Zoning Ordinance by reference (Ord. 01-2017). Rezonings inside town limits or the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction are decided by the Taylorsville Town Council rather than the county commissioners. Taylorsville Town Hall is at 67 Main Avenue Drive (828-632-2218).
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Building Inspections and Planning & Development | 151 West Main Avenue, Suite 7, Taylorsville, NC 28681; 828-632-1000; permits@alexandercountync.gov |
| Planning and zoning email | planning@alexandercountync.gov |
| Environmental Health (septic and wells) | 338 1st Avenue SW, Taylorsville; 828-632-9704 |
| Fire alarm and sprinkler plans | Alexander County Fire Marshal’s office |
| Online portal | SmartGov (co-alexander-nc.smartgovcommunity.com) |
Trade permits and county forms
Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas work each have their own county trade permit application; the plumbing form includes a fixtures checklist, and a separate checklist covers plumbing fixtures and gas appliances. Every contractor on a job must be listed on the building permit application before any trade inspection can be scheduled.
- Owner Exemption Affidavit: for an owner building without a licensed general contractor. You swear that you will manage the work yourself, be present for every inspection and live in the building for 12 months after completion.
- General Contractor Form – Licensed: the contractor’s sworn statement of licence status, with a workers’ compensation affidavit.
- Designation of Lien Agent and P.E. Approval of Component or Element, where they apply.
- Temporary Power Agreement: asks for temporary service for 30, 60 or 90 days. The building may not be occupied until a Certificate of Occupancy is issued.
- Commercial Plan Review Application: filed with commercial plans before the permit.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →The fee schedule on the county website (dated September 11, 2023) covers Planning & Development’s zoning, plat and board fees. Building and trade permit fees are not on it.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential single-family zoning permit | $50 |
| Residential multifamily zoning permit | $100 |
| Residential addition | $25 |
| Commercial or industrial zoning permit | $150 |
| Commercial or industrial addition | $50 |
| Floodplain permit | $25 |
| Pier or boat dock | $25 |
| Sign permit | $50 |
| Watershed permit | $10 |
| Rezoning, special use permit or variance | $500 |
Application documents and plan review
Homes and small projects
- The residential, deck or porch, accessory building or manufactured home application, with owner, applicant and project address
- Water and sewer type (public, well or septic) and power company
- Estimated cost, acres disturbed, heated and unheated square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms and plumbing fixtures
- Electrical service size, heating type and gas appliances
- Name, phone and licence number of each contractor
- A scaled site plan showing distances to property lines and other buildings (required for a pole barn)
Commercial
- Commercial Building Permit application with occupancy and construction type
- Commercial Plan Review Application
- Plan sets stapled together, each with the NC Building Code Summary (Appendix B)
- Fire alarm and sprinkler drawings approved by the county Fire Marshal’s office
- Environmental Health review, and a well permit where public water is not available
- NCDOI approval for a government-owned new building or addition over 20,000 sq ft
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Pole barns up to 32 feet wide, 40 feet long and 12 feet high at the wall can be built from the county’s own pole barn guide; anything larger needs drawings sealed by a North Carolina licensed design professional. Commercial plans that are not permitted or resubmitted within 12 months of the last review expire and must be submitted again with new fees.
How to apply for an Alexander County building permit
Find the parcel on the county GIS map and turn on the Zoning layer, or ask Planning & Development.
Create a portal account, choose Planning and Zoning, then the residential or commercial zoning permit application, and upload the site plan. A new structure gets its 911 address after the zoning permit is approved, usually within 3 business days.
Apply to the county health department for a septic or well permit, or for an evaluation of the existing septic system before an addition, garage, pool or storage building.
Submit the correct application, the contractor list and the owner exemption or contractor licence form to Building Inspections, with plans for commercial work.
A permit expires if work has not begun 6 months after it is issued, or if work stops for 12 months.
Request inspections as each stage is ready, through to the final inspection for every trade and the Certificate of Occupancy.
Rather not deal with the Alexander County building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections in Alexander County
The permit holder or agent calls Building Inspections when the work is ready. Give the property owner’s name, the permit (receipt) number, the location and a callback number. Residential inspections are normally scheduled for the next business day, and a re-inspection fee may be charged if the work is not ready at the requested time.
The county’s residential inspection procedures list these stages:
- Footing: trenches dug, grade stakes and steel in place, before concrete. Setbacks are checked here, so mark the property lines, with strings between points if needed.
- Under-slab and foundation or crawl space: before anything is covered.
- Rough-in: framing and concealed electrical, plumbing, fire protection and HVAC in place, before insulation or wall finishes.
- Framing: roof, wall, ceiling and floor framing complete, with flashing, vents and insulation baffles visible.
- Insulation: after framing and rough-in approval and after the permanent roof covering is on.
- Final: a separate final inspection for each trade.
Temporary power and a temporary Certificate of Occupancy can be requested before the final inspection.
Local Alexander County details
Floodplain and watersheds: work in a mapped floodplain needs a county floodplain development permit ($25), and the department publishes the FEMA elevation and no-rise certificate forms. Watershed permits cost $10.
Manufactured homes: besides the building permit, zoning staff issue a manufactured home appearance permit.
RVs: the Land Development Code prohibits using a recreational vehicle as a primary residence in every district.
Rezoning and variances: the Planning Board meets on the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at the CVCC Alexander Center for Education, 345 Industrial Boulevard.
Power companies: the county applications list Duke Energy, Energy United and Blue Ridge.
North Carolina building code
The 2018 North Carolina State Building Code family applies statewide, with the 2020 North Carolina Electrical Code; one- and two-family homes and townhouses still use the 2017 edition. The 2024 code has been delayed and cannot take effect before late 2027. The NC State Building Code and the delayed 2024 edition
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Alexander County permit search and official resources
County and town pages and forms used for this guide.
- Alexander County Building Inspections
- Alexander County Planning & Development
- Alexander County SmartGov permit portal
- Planning & Development fee schedule (9/11/23)
- Residential building permit application
- Commercial plan review application
- Residential inspection procedures
- Owner exemption affidavit
- Alexander County Environmental Health
- Town of Taylorsville Planning & Development
Alexander County permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Alexander County?
The county Building Inspections office, part of Planning & Development at 151 West Main Avenue in Taylorsville (828-632-1000), issues building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and gas permits.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Does Taylorsville have its own permit office?
No. The Town of Taylorsville contracts with Alexander County for zoning permits and enforcement and refers applicants to the county department. Rezonings in the town and its ETJ go to the Town Council.
Do I need a zoning permit for a shed or garage?
Yes, storage buildings and garages are on the county’s list, as is any structure with a dimension over 12 feet. A building permit is also required for a detached accessory building.
How much is a zoning permit for a new house?
$50 for a single-family home, $100 for multifamily and $25 for a residential addition, under the September 2023 Planning & Development fee schedule.
Can a homeowner pull a building permit?
Yes, with the county’s Owner Exemption Affidavit. You must manage the work yourself, attend every inspection and occupy the building for 12 months after it is finished.
How soon will an inspection happen?
Residential inspections are normally scheduled for the next business day after the request is phoned in.
Do I need Environmental Health approval first?
Yes, where the property uses a septic system or well. Environmental Health says the septic or well permit must be in place before construction permits, and it also reviews existing septic systems before additions, garages and pools.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Alexander County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.