Camden County Planning & Building, 133 U.S. Highway 158 West, Suite B, Camden (252-338-1919), issues building and trade permits across the county. Complete application packets are processed in 10 to 15 days, fees are paid when the permit is issued, and inspections must be booked on extension 235 by 3 p.m. the day before.
What requires a permit in Camden County?
The department publishes a separate application page for each kind of project:
Residential
- New single-family dwellings: stick-built, modular, manufactured and accessory dwelling units
- Additions and renovations
- Decks and covered porches
- Detached garages, storage buildings, sheds and pole barns
- Foundation and crawlspace repairs, including closed-crawlspace moisture control systems
- Bulkheads, docks, piers and boat lifts
- Pools and spas, solar arrays, signs and demolition
- Stand-alone electrical, mechanical, plumbing or gas work
- Impervious surfaces: concrete, asphalt and pavers
No building permit
- Buildings on a qualifying bona fide farm, unless there is electrical work, sleeping quarters or a business use
- Gravel, crushed concrete or asphalt millings need only a free courtesy application
Commercial work has its own building, ABC and communication tower applications (252-338-1919, ext. 263). Building without a permit brings a stop-work order and a fine of at least $100.
Who handles permitting in Camden County?
The Planning & Building Department, directed by Amber Curling, has two parts. Building & Inspections receives and approves permit applications, reviews residential and commercial plans, carries out inspections and investigates code complaints. Planning, Zoning & Flood administers the Unified Development Ordinance, floodplain rules, code enforcement and minimum housing, and processes zoning compliance applications. A moratorium on land subdivision runs until December 2026; transfer plats are exempt.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Elizabeth City: the only incorporated land in Camden County is a small piece of Elizabeth City. Inside city limits, the City of Elizabeth City’s Building Inspections Department handles permits and inspection requests through its online system, not the county.
| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Planning & Building (permits and inspections) | 133 U.S. Highway 158 West, Suite B, Camden, NC 27921; 252-338-1919, ext. 235 |
| Commercial permits | 252-338-1919, ext. 263 |
| Septic and well permits (Albemarle Regional Health Services) | 252-338-4460 |
The county has warned of a phishing scam asking for permit payments; genuine emails come only from @CamdenCountyNC.gov addresses.
Camden County permit fees
Fees come from the department’s permit, inspection and land-use fee schedule (the current file is labelled 2025 to 2026). They are due when the permit is issued, after the 10 to 15 day review, and are not refunded once the permit is issued.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New single-family dwelling (incl. modular, ADU) | $100 minimum; over 400 sq ft, $0.25 per sq ft |
| Homeowner Recovery Fee | $10 |
| Manufactured home, single / double / triple wide | $250 / $350 / $400, plus trades |
| Attached addition | $150 minimum; over 405 sq ft, $0.37 per sq ft |
| Interior alteration or renovation | $100 minimum; over 400 sq ft, $0.25 per sq ft |
| Detached garage, shed or covered porch | $75 minimum; over 400 sq ft, $0.25 per sq ft |
| Carport, pole barn, deck or lean-to | $75 minimum; over 500 sq ft, $0.15 per sq ft |
| Fill permit | $50 |
| Impervious surface, on its own / with another permit | $75 / $25 |
| In-ground pool | $150 including electrical |
| Bulkhead, pier, boat lift or dock | $75 each |
| Commercial new construction / alteration | $0.60 / $0.30 per sq ft |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →A $100 inspection negligence fee applies when work is not ready, a mandatory inspection is skipped, a re-inspection is booked before the defects are fixed, the wrong subcontractor is on the job, there is no OSHA ladder at the inspection, or work starts without a permit. Building before getting a permit also doubles the permit fee.
Trade permits in Camden County
Every subcontractor named on a permit signs the county’s trade affidavit. Stand-alone trade jobs use the utility permit application.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Electrical | $75 minimum; over 500 sq ft, $0.15 per sq ft |
| Electrical service change or temporary service | $75 |
| Plumbing | $75 |
| Mechanical, new installation on a new home | $100 |
| Mechanical repair or same-size change-out | $75; each additional unit $25 |
| Insulation | $75 |
| Gas hookup or conversion | $50 |
| Commercial electrical, plumbing or mechanical | $100 minimum each, per suite |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →New home application packet
- Single Family Dwelling application
- Site plan showing the house, its measurements, distances to property lines and other buildings, and the septic system and drain lines
- Building plans; a pre-fabricated outbuilding needs engineered plans with a North Carolina engineer’s stamp on every page
- Septic or well permit from Albemarle Regional Health Services, or the county water tap fee paid with the application
- Lien agent appointment, where required, with the printed QR-code page
- Fill permit form (required for every new dwelling) and trade affidavits for each subcontractor
- Elevation certificate if applicable, and a CAMA permit for waterfront property
- Appendix F if the owner is acting as an unlicensed general contractor
- Proof that property taxes are paid in full
Before the Certificate of Occupancy, the county needs the final septic permit, the culvert and ditch certification, final and lot elevation certificates where they apply, a termite treatment affidavit and the energy code forms, including the permanently mounted energy certificate and the duct and air-sealing test forms.
Rather not deal with the Camden County building department?
Get a free quote →How to apply for a Camden County building permit
Pick the county page for your project type and download its application and checklist.
Septic or well permits from Albemarle Regional Health Services (252-338-4460), or pay the county water tap fee.
Include the site plan, plans, fill permit form, trade affidavits and tax receipt; incomplete packets are not processed.
Copy the permitting office address and any staff member you are working with.
The county contacts you within 10 to 15 days, when the fees are due and the permit is issued.
Keep the permit and site card on site and call ext. 235 by 3 p.m. the day before each inspection.
Inspections in Camden County
Request inspections on 252-338-1919, ext. 235, or by email, no later than 3 p.m. the day before. The department posts the next day’s inspection list on its website by 5 p.m., with each address given a two-hour window that is only an estimate. Cancel by 8:30 a.m. on the day to avoid fees.
The department’s required-inspections memo (revised January 13, 2026) lists the footing, under-slab and foundation inspections, optional courtesy inspections of the floor system and of high-wind sheathing nailing, then rough-in and framing. A ladder must be on site for the framing inspection, and work may not be covered or moved to the next stage without the inspector’s approval.
Site rules in Camden County
Construction debris: under section 51.03(K) of the county code, every construction site must have an approved, coverable debris container, and debris must go in it at the end of each work day. Violations can bring a civil penalty of up to $500, with each day counted separately.
Zoning fees: a home occupation or commercial use zoning compliance permit is $25, a special use permit $400, a variance $500, and a rezoning $650 for the first 10 acres.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →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
Camden County permit search and official resources
Camden County and Elizabeth City pages used here.
- Camden County Planning & Building
- Building permits and inspections
- New single-family dwelling permits
- Planning & Building fee schedules
- Memo B: required inspections
- Memo A: construction site debris
- Commercial permits
- City of Elizabeth City Building Inspections
Camden County permit FAQ
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Camden County?
Camden County Planning & Building, 133 U.S. Highway 158 West, Suite B (252-338-1919, ext. 235). The small part of Elizabeth City inside the county is permitted by the city.
How long does a Camden County permit take?
10 to 15 days after the complete application packet is received.
How do I schedule an inspection?
Call ext. 235 or email the permitting office by 3 p.m. the day before. Cancel by 8:30 a.m. on the day to avoid a fee.
Do I need a permit to encapsulate my crawlspace?
Yes. The county treats a closed-crawlspace moisture control system as trade work, and foundation and crawlspace improvements start at $75.
Do I need a permit for a concrete driveway or patio?
Yes, an impervious surface permit ($25 when added to another permit). Gravel only needs a free courtesy application.
What happens if I build without a permit?
A stop-work order, a fine of at least $100, and the permit fee is doubled.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Camden County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.