Building permits in the City of High Point — the world's furniture capital, spanning parts of Guilford, Randolph, Davidson, and Forsyth counties — are issued by the Inspections Services Department, with applications filed through Accela Citizen Access (ACA). BuildHighPoint.com is the City's one-source development guide.
This High Point building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the Accela process, trade permits, and inspections — so your High Point project starts clean.
This guide covers projects inside High Point city limits. Construction permits are required under N.C.G.S. 143-138 and 160D-1110. Commercial projects are assigned a Case Manager as a single point of contact, and an owner acting as general contractor on a project valued at $30,000 or more must submit a notarized Work By Owner Affidavit.
What requires a building permit in High Point?
Under the North Carolina State Building Code (and N.C.G.S. 160D-1110, which requires permits for most construction), a permit is required before you construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of most structures and systems. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and renovations
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, windows, doors, and exterior changes
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Decks, accessory structures, and signs
- Change of occupancy or use
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like fixture/device swaps by a licensed contractor
- Routine maintenance not altering structure or systems
- Minor work expressly exempt by code (confirm first)
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Construction permits are required under N.C.G.S. 143-138 and 160D-1110; zoning permits are also required for many land-development activities.
Who handles permitting in High Point?
Plan review and inspections run through the Inspections Services Department, with Planning & Development administering the construction permit and inspection process. Commercial projects receive an assigned Case Manager to guide them through plan review.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Development Services Center, City of High Point |
| Phone | (336) 883-3151 |
| Online portal | Accela Citizen Access (ACA) — via BuildHighPoint.com |
| Commercial | Case Manager assigned as point of contact |
| Energy / special insp. | COMcheck worksheet; Special Inspection & Testing Agreement |
| Enforced code | NC State Building Code + City Development Ordinance |
Apply through Accela Citizen Access (ACA). Submit applications at the Development Services Center or online; commercial submissions include construction plans meeting the City's Commercial Construction Plan Standards, a COMcheck energy worksheet (or prescriptive envelope documentation) for heated space, and a Special Inspection & Testing Agreement where special inspections are required. When multiple contractors are involved, one permit can be issued. BuildHighPoint.com walks through the full process.
High Point building permit cost
High Point building permit fees are set by the City Development Fee Schedule and based on the type and valuation of work, with separate trade permit fees; all required inspections are included in permit fees.
Optional services — after-hours inspections, provisional power requests, and temporary certificates of occupancy — carry additional fees. Confirm current amounts before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit fee | Per City Development Fee Schedule |
| Required inspections | Included in permit fees |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade |
| After-hours / provisional power | Additional fees |
| Lien agent | Designate via LiensNC for projects $30,000+ |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific High Point project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
High Point trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work needs its own permit and a North Carolina-licensed contractor, each filed in Accela Citizen Access.
Electrical permits
Required for service upgrades, panels, solar PV, and most wiring, performed by a NC-licensed electrical contractor.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heaters, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a NC-licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, refrigeration, and fire-suppression equipment, performed by a NC-licensed contractor; some commercial trade work may use the Commercial Over-the-Counter process.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, decks, accessory structures, and signs are permitted separately, and many land-development activities require a separate zoning permit under the City Development Ordinance. Special inspections must be performed by a NC registered design professional with sealed reports.
Verify your contractor's license. North Carolina requires a state General Contractor license from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors for projects costing $40,000 or more, plus separate state licenses for electrical (NC Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors) and plumbing/heating (NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors). Verify before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in High Point
Confirm jurisdiction & permit type
Confirm the parcel is inside High Point and identify the construction and/or zoning permits needed (start at BuildHighPoint.com).
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, plans to the City's standards, COMcheck worksheet for heated space, and a Work By Owner Affidavit if you're an owner-GC at $30,000+.
Submit in Accela
File at the Development Services Center or online via Accela Citizen Access.
Plan review & corrections
Inspections Services reviews; commercial projects get a Case Manager. Resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay the calculated fees (cash, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, check), then post the permit on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Request inspections via ACA until 6 a.m. for same-day service. Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in High Point
Request inspections through Accela Citizen Access — requests submitted until 6 a.m. are eligible for that business day, and inspections can also be scheduled for later. After-hours inspections, provisional power requests, and temporary certificates of occupancy carry additional fees. Typical checkpoints include footing, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final.
Special inspections required by the NC Building Code must be performed by a NC registered design professional (or an inspector under their responsible charge) with sealed reports provided to the field inspector.
Official High Point permitting resources
- 🏛️ City of High Point Inspections Services
- 💻 BuildHighPoint.com (Accela access)
- 📋 Permits required & forms
- 🪪 NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- 📘 NC OSFM — State Building Codes
- 🧮 Scheduling inspections & fee schedule
Simplify High Point permitting with Alliance Permitting
High Point's Accela intake, Case-Manager commercial track, and energy/special-inspection documentation reward applicants who submit complete, standards-compliant packages. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for High Point — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Inspections Services and BuildHighPoint process, so your High Point submissions move faster.
Trusted by leading builders and brands — including Dream Finders Homes, Tesla, Verizon, Hyatt, and Sunnova.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for High Point because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know City of High Point Inspections Services, Accela Citizen Access, and BuildHighPoint.com.
- Complete oversight — track every permit and inspection across all your jobs in one place.
- Error-free submissions — AI pre-checks plus expert review catch issues before they become correction cycles.
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in High Point sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your High Point permits while you stay focused on building. Get a free, no-obligation quote today.
More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the City of High Point Inspections Services Department before filing. This is not legal advice.