Kernersville Community Development contains Development Services and Planning and Engineering. Development Services is responsible for State Building Code enforcement and assists with permits and inspections. Planning and Engineering handles zoning, civil plan review, watershed regulation, stormwater and related development review.
What requires a permit in Kernersville?
The Town identifies new residential and commercial construction, structural alterations and renovations, new business openings or relocations, exterior signs, home occupations, pools, manufactured homes, and regulated mechanical, plumbing or electrical work among the activities that may require permits. Permit selection depends on the actual scope.
Who issues permits in Kernersville?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary authority | Town of Kernersville Development Services |
| Contact | Development Services Division, (336) 996-7166 |
| Location | 134 East Mountain Street, Kernersville, NC 27284 |
| Portal | ViewPoint Online Permitting System |
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All permits, plan reviews and inspection requests are routed through the Town’s ViewPoint Online Permitting System. The Town separates business/zoning/miscellaneous records from construction and development permits, including building, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, pool and manufactured-home records.
Fire Department permits, such as sprinkler, fire-suppression and tank permits, are also filed in ViewPoint. The Fire Prevention Division can be reached at (336) 564-1923.
Use & Occupancy, Home Occupation and Sign Permit applications sit under “Business, Zoning, & Miscellaneous Permits” in ViewPoint. A business doing new construction or structural alterations gets a building permit, which covers use and occupancy, so no separate Use & Occupancy Permit is needed.
Permit fees in Kernersville
Kernersville publishes a Schedule of Fees. Fees are paid in ViewPoint by Master Card, Visa, American Express or Discover.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas coordination
Mechanical, plumbing and electrical work requires the corresponding trade permit when the scope triggers that work. The Town’s permit overview places those trade permits in the same ViewPoint construction-and-development workflow as building permits.
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Commercial site development, residential subdivisions and plats go through civil and stormwater plan review. A pre-submittal meeting with Town staff is required first (336-992-0705). Submittals include civil drawings, a stormwater report and drainage area map, and the Town’s checklists. NCDOT approval and an NCDEQ erosion control permit are needed before permit issuance where they apply.
Before you file
Check whether the project also needs zoning, watershed/stormwater, civil-plan, sign or fire approvals. For site projects, the watershed/stormwater permit comes before the zoning or building permit.
How to apply — 6-step Kernersville workflow
Check that the site is within Kernersville town limits or its ETJ.
Identify zoning, civil, stormwater, fire, utility or environmental approvals that must run first or in parallel.
Match plans, forms, contractor information and supporting documents to the permit type.
Upload the application and plans and pay fees in ViewPoint.
Keep revisions and comments tied to the same active permit record.
Request required inspections in ViewPoint, resolve failed items and obtain the final approval required for occupancy or use.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Inspections and closeout in Kernersville
Inspection requests are made through ViewPoint, and Kernersville Development Services performs the inspections. To speak directly with a building inspector, call (336) 996-7166 and make an appointment.
Do not conceal regulated work before the required inspection. Use the active permit record to confirm inspection status and final closeout requirements.
Local details that matter in Kernersville
Kernersville is its own building inspections jurisdiction, so the Town, not Forsyth or Guilford County, issues permits for addresses in town.
Planning and Engineering is responsible for the Unified Development Ordinance, civil-plan review, watershed regulation and stormwater inspections.
Rather not deal with the building department?
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
Official permitting resources
These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.
- NC OSFM current codes
- Fire Department permits
- Civil and stormwater plan review
- Schedule of Fees
- Community Development
- Permits and Inspections Overview
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Kernersville permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Kernersville?
Town of Kernersville Development Services administers State Building Code enforcement and the Town permit and inspection process.
Where are Kernersville permits submitted?
The Town directs permits, plan reviews and inspection requests through its ViewPoint Online Permitting System.
Does Kernersville issue trade permits?
Yes. The Town lists mechanical, plumbing and electrical permits in its construction and development permit workflow.
Does a building permit replace stormwater or civil approvals?
No. Planning and Engineering separately administers civil-plan, watershed and stormwater review when a project triggers those requirements.
Who should I call about Kernersville permits?
The Town directs permit and inspection assistance to the Development Services Division at (336) 996-7166.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kernersville permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.