Davidson County building permits come from Inspections / Central Permitting at 912 Greensboro Street in Lexington — with Planning & Zoning directly across the street at 913. The county permits unincorporated land; Lexington, Thomasville, Denton, Midway, and Welcome run their own, as does the Davidson County portion of High Point.
Davidson sits on I-85 between Winston-Salem and Charlotte. The county has moved its online permitting to an OpenGov portal, and it runs three separate counter clocks inside one set of posted hours — which is the detail most likely to waste a trip.
Applies to unincorporated Davidson County. Lexington, Thomasville, Denton, Midway, Welcome, and the Davidson portion of High Point permit their own work.
Three clocks, one counter. The office is open 8 to 5, but next-day inspection requests are taken only 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and permits are issued only 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Arriving at 8:05 for a permit and at 4:15 for an inspection both fail.
What requires a permit in Davidson County?
A Davidson County building permit is required before most construction, alteration, repair, demolition, or change of occupancy in the county's jurisdiction. Davidson sits between Winston-Salem and Charlotte along I-85, and the county's inspections department covers unincorporated land while Lexington, Thomasville, and the county's other incorporated municipalities permit their own work.
The enforced edition is the 2018 NC State Building Code family (2018 Residential Code, 2020 NC Electrical Code). The 2024 NC State Building Code was originally slated for January 1, 2025, but S.L. 2024-57 and then S.L. 2025-2 (the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025, passed after Hurricane Helene) pushed its effective date to 12 months after the State Fire Marshal certifies publication and the seating of the new Residential Code Council — currently expected no earlier than 2027. Until then the 2018 code governs, though an owner may elect the 2024 code as an alternate method under § 102.5 of the Administrative Code if the plan set says so clearly.
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and accessory structures over the statutory exemption
- Structural and load-bearing alterations, renovations, and repairs
- Electrical service changes, panel work, and most wiring alterations
- Plumbing additions, repipes, gas piping, and non-identical water heater swaps
- Mechanical and HVAC installations and changeouts
- Modular and manufactured home placement and setup
- Demolition, signs, and swimming pools — each its own record
- Development in the floodplain, which the department also enforces
Typically exempt
- Nonstructural work costing forty thousand dollars or less in a single-family home, farm building, or commercial building (G.S. 160D-1110(c))
- Replacement windows, doors, exterior siding, and porch/deck pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking
- Like-for-like plumbing swaps that keep size and capacity, and like-kind light fixtures, receptacles, and switches
- Same-spec water heater changeouts installed by a licensed contractor
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and other cosmetic work
Davidson County building department: who handles permitting
Davidson County Inspections / Central Permitting accepts plans for review and issues building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits, plus permits for modular and manufactured homes, demolition, signs, renovation, and swimming pools. The department also enforces the county's floodplain requirements.
The geography is worth noting: Central Permitting sits at 912 Greensboro Street in Lexington and Planning & Zoning sits at 913 — directly across the street from each other. Zoning questions go to the zoning official on the planning line; permitting questions go to Central Permitting. The county has also moved its online permitting to an OpenGov portal, where you apply, request inspections, and check results.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Central Permitting | 912 Greensboro Street, Lexington, NC 27292 |
| Planning & Zoning | 913 Greensboro Street, Lexington — across the street |
| Phone | (336) 242-2230 permitting; (336) 242-2220 for the zoning official |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Next-day inspection requests | Accepted 8 a.m.–4 p.m. |
| Permits issued | Between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. |
Watch three separate clocks at this counter. The office is open 8 to 5, but next-day inspection requests are only taken between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and permits are only issued between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Arriving at 8:05 for a permit or at 4:15 for a next-day inspection both fail, for different reasons.
This guide covers Davidson County, North Carolina, seated in Lexington. Davidson County, Tennessee is Nashville — a far larger and entirely separate jurisdiction — and there are also Davidson Counties in no other state, but the Town of Davidson in Mecklenburg County, NC is a different place again, permitted by Mecklenburg County.
Davidson County permits: record types and what each covers
Davidson issues a broad catalog from one counter, including several records that other counties split across departments. These are the ones you will file:
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures over the statutory exemption ceiling | Full plan review against the 2018 NC Residential Code, plus zoning | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Load-bearing changes, layout changes, or added plumbing, HVAC, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; 15-business-day residential clock applies | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement, and any work that adds rather than replaces roofing | Sheathing and dry-in inspection; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV, with or without battery storage | Electrical review led, with structural review of the attachment | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted ESS added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, most rewiring | Trade review by the electrical inspector; filed as its own record | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and non-identical water heater swaps | Trade review; like-for-like same-capacity swaps are statutorily exempt | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Changeouts that are not like-for-like, ductwork, and refrigeration | Trade review by the mechanical inspector | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks and structural rebuilds; pickets, rails, treads, and decking are exempt replacements | Footing and framing review against the residential code | Flat or valuation-based |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barriers, and bonding | Structural, barrier, and electrical bonding review | Valuation-based |
| Accessory structure | Sheds, detached garages, and carports above the local size threshold | Zoning first, then structural review where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification and asbestos notification | Flat |
| Swimming pool permit | Pools and spas with barrier and bonding requirements | Structural, barrier, and electrical bonding review | Valuation-based |
| Modular home permit | Placement and setup of modular housing | Setup and utility connection review | Flat |
| Wastewater authorisation | Septic system type selected on the application | Signed by the owner or legal representative under 15A NCAC 18A .1937 | Flat by system type |
Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings | Full multi-discipline review; sealed plans required | Valuation-based |
| Upfit / tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups in an existing shell | Concurrent building, trade, and fire review | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope; accessibility triggers attach | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Life-safety, accessibility, and zoning review | Valuation or flat |
| Shell building | A building permitted without a known tenant or use | Shell review only; no certificate of occupancy until an upfit closes | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement or recover | Structural check on added dead load; fire review where applicable | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount arrays | Structural, electrical, and fire access review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review; separate record from the building permit | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, grease, and gas systems | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-offs attach | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review; energy compliance documentation required | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, hood, and suppression systems | Fire prevention review, often a separate submittal | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning review plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Sign permit | Wall and freestanding signage | Zoning review plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Floodplain compliance | Development within the mapped floodplain | Enforced by the same department as the building record | Flat plus review |
| Occupancy penalty clearance | Charge for occupying before a TCO or CO is issued | Must be paid before any certificate will be released | Flat penalty |
Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- One permit covers simultaneous same-address residential projects (G.S. 160D-1110(d))
- The 15-business-day review clock and its 10%-per-day fee refund apply
- No engineer's or architect's seal may be demanded unless the code itself requires it
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans across every affected discipline
- Third-party plan review available under G.S. 160D-1110.1 when review stalls
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Davidson
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Building permit | New construction, additions, renovations, and alterations |
| Electrical / plumbing / mechanical | Trade records filed by the state-licensed contractor |
| Modular home permit | Placement and setup of modular housing |
| Manufactured home permit | Placement, anchoring, and utility connection |
| Demolition permit | Full or partial removal with utility disconnect verification |
| Sign permit | Wall and freestanding signage |
| Swimming pool permit | Barrier, structural, and electrical bonding review |
| Floodplain compliance | Enforced by the same department alongside the building record |
Solar permits in Davidson
Solar is its own record in North Carolina rather than a line item on a building permit, and it is reviewed on two tracks at once: the electrical side (conductors, overcurrent protection, rapid shutdown, labelling, and the service or supply-side connection) and the structural side (attachment detail, rail spacing, and whether the existing framing carries the added dead load).
Solar files as an electrical-led record through the county's OpenGov portal. Zoning questions on a ground-mount go across the street to Planning & Zoning at 913 Greensboro Street rather than to the permitting counter at 912.
The HOA question comes up on nearly every residential array, and North Carolina answers it more favourably than most states. G.S. 22B-20 voids covenants that prohibit — or merely have the effect of prohibiting — rooftop solar, and in Belmont Association v. Farwig (2022) the NC Supreme Court held a review committee's general aesthetic authority cannot block street-facing panels: an HOA must ban them explicitly, and even then cannot force a relocation that defeats reasonable use (a north-facing roof cutting output roughly in half fails that test). Condominiums under Chapters 47A/47C sit outside the statute.
Utility interconnection runs on its own clock alongside the permit. Duke Energy and the state's electric cooperatives each set their own application, meter, and witness-test sequence, and the utility's approval to energize is not something the inspection department controls — plan for the two tracks to finish at different times.
Roofing permits in Davidson
A roof covering replacement needs a permit in most of North Carolina, and the statutory exemption is narrower than contractors expect: replacing roofing is treated differently from adding roofing, and adding a layer pushes the job out of the exemption regardless of what it costs.
Because North Carolina runs a statewide code, there is no state product-approval database to search and no local product-approval number to cite — the assembly simply has to comply with the NC code and the manufacturer's listed installation instructions, which is what the inspector checks against.
Reroofs in unincorporated Davidson are county permits; in Lexington, Thomasville, and the other incorporated municipalities they are not. Watch the issuance window — a roofer arriving at 4:35 for a permit leaves without one.
Sequencing is where reroofs go wrong. The sheathing and dry-in condition has to be visible when the inspector arrives, so covering it before the inspection means opening it back up. On a structure that has had a previous layer removed, expect the inspector to look at deck fastening and at any decking replaced along the eaves.
Davidson County permit cost
Davidson County building permit fees are set by the county's published schedule and vary by record type and scope, with trade permits charged separately from the building record. Fees are collected within the permit issuance window.
Budget separately for the occupancy penalty risk. Occupying a structure before a temporary or final certificate of occupancy is issued triggers a flat charge that must be cleared before any certificate will be released — which means an early move-in can hold up the very document the move-in depends on.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | County fee schedule by record type and scope |
| Trade permits (E/P/M) | Charged separately per trade record |
| Occupancy penalty | Flat charge for occupying before a TCO or CO; payable before either issues |
| Permit issuance window | 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Re-inspection | Charged on failed inspections before final or certificate |
| Payment | Through the OpenGov portal or at the counter |
Want a precise number for a specific Davidson project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Davidson County trade permits
Davidson County trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work are separate records pulled by the state-licensed contractor performing the work, filed through the OpenGov portal or at Central Permitting.
Electrical permits
Required for services, panel upgrades, circuits, EV chargers, and solar interconnection. Electrical work takes a contractor licensed by the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.
Plumbing permits
Required for new piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and non-identical water heater changeouts by a state-licensed contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for installations, non-identical changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration by a state-licensed heating contractor.
Wastewater coordination
Where a septic system is involved, the wastewater authorisation runs alongside the permit and requires the owner's or the owner's legal representative's signature under 15A NCAC 18A .1937 — not the contractor's.
Davidson County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Davidson County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Davidson County permits unincorporated land. Lexington, Thomasville, Denton, Midway, Welcome, and the Davidson County portion of High Point run their own.
Zoning questions go to Planning & Zoning at 913 Greensboro Street; permitting is at 912. Settle zoning before the building record.
Septic requires an Authorization to Construct with a wastewater system type selected, signed by the owner or the owner's legal representative rather than by the contractor.
The county has moved online permitting to OpenGov, where you apply for permits, request inspections, and check results.
Permits are issued between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., which is narrower than the office hours.
Request next-day inspections between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and do not occupy before the temporary or final certificate issues — the penalty must be cleared before either is released.
Inspections in Davidson County
Davidson County inspections are requested through the OpenGov portal or at Central Permitting, with next-day requests accepted between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Typical checkpoints run footing and foundation, rough-in trades, framing, insulation, and final.
Permits issued in Davidson carry the statutory expiration on their face — six months from issuance if work has not commenced, and immediate expiry if work is discontinued for twelve months. G.S. 143-139 requires code enforcement inspections to be performed within two business days of the request. That is a statutory duty, not a courtesy, and it sits alongside G.S. 160D-1104's requirement that the inspector complete every inspection requested for a scheduled visit and itemize exactly what failed.
Keep the permit and approved plans on site. an NC building permit expires six months after issuance if work has not commenced (local ordinance can set less), and expires immediately if work stops for 12 months (G.S. 160D-1111) — changes from approved plans need written inspection-department approval first (G.S. 160D-1112).
Davidson County permit search and official resources
Run a Davidson County permit search, open the OpenGov portal, or reach Central Permitting with the official links below.
- Davidson County Inspections / Central Permitting
- Davidson County OpenGov permitting portal
- Davidson County planning and zoning permits
- NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- LiensNC — designate a lien agent
- NC State Building Code (OSFM)
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Davidson County, NC?
Davidson County Inspections / Central Permitting, at 912 Greensboro Street in Lexington, for unincorporated county land. Lexington, Thomasville, Denton, Midway, Welcome, and the Davidson County portion of High Point permit their own work.
What are the Davidson County permit counter windows?
The office is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but next-day inspection requests are taken only from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and permits are issued only between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Three different clocks at one counter.
How do I apply for a Davidson County permit online?
Through the county's OpenGov permitting portal, where you can apply for permits, request inspections, and check inspection results. The county publishes guides to help new users navigate it.
What happens if I occupy before the certificate of occupancy?
Occupying a structure before a temporary or final certificate of occupancy is issued triggers a flat penalty charge from the Inspections Department, and that penalty must be paid before either certificate will be issued. An early move-in delays the document the move-in depends on.
Is Davidson County, NC the same as Davidson County, TN?
No. Davidson County, North Carolina is seated in Lexington; Davidson County, Tennessee is Nashville. And the Town of Davidson is a separate place again — it sits in Mecklenburg County, NC, where the county issues the permits.
Who signs the septic application in Davidson County?
The owner or the owner's legal representative, under 15A NCAC 18A .1937 — not the contractor. If the owner does not sign personally, a legal representative must, and the wastewater system type has to be selected on the application.
What permits does Davidson County issue besides building permits?
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical, plus modular and manufactured homes, demolition, signs, renovation, and swimming pools. The department also enforces the county's floodplain requirements.
How do I contact the Davidson County zoning official?
Call (336) 242-2220 for zoning questions on residential or commercial projects. Planning and Zoning is at 913 Greensboro Street, directly across from Central Permitting at 912.
When does a Davidson County building permit expire?
Six months after issuance if the authorised work has not commenced, and immediately if work is discontinued for twelve months after commencement — the statutory rule under G.S. 160D-1111, printed on the permit itself.
When is a general contractor licence required in Davidson County?
On projects of forty thousand dollars or more, under G.S. 87-1 and the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, with tiers capping single-project value at $750,000, $1,500,000, or without limit excluding land cost.
Do I need a lien agent for a Davidson County project?
For work costing forty thousand dollars or more, yes — designated through LiensNC. The mechanics' lien agent system implements Chapter 44A, Article 2 and applies to projects commenced on or after April 1, 2013.
How long does Davidson County plan review take?
Residential plan review runs on the state clock: initial review within fifteen business days, with a ten-percent-per-day fee refund if it slips past twenty business days, up to a full refund. Commercial review depends on the disciplines involved.
Simplify Davidson County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Three counter windows inside one set of posted hours, a portal the county has recently changed, and a penalty that punishes moving in early by delaying the certificate you moved in for — Davidson is a timing problem. A permit expediter for Davidson County works the timing: right window, right portal, certificate before occupancy.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Davidson because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Windows respected — permits collected and inspections requested inside the hours that actually apply.
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- Clean close-out — certificate in hand before anyone occupies, so the penalty never enters the picture.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Davidson County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.