The City of Kings Mountain Inspections & Codes Department issues building and trade permits, and every application is filed online through OpenGov. A new home is charged 0.4% of the project cost or the ICC building valuation, whichever is higher, plus a $50 zoning fee, and commercial plan review takes 1 to 3 weeks.
What requires a permit in Kings Mountain?
Inspections & Codes issues permits for residential and commercial building work, trades (electrical, mechanical, plumbing and refrigeration), accessory structures, manufactured homes, fire protection, demolition, signs, change of use and Moss Lake construction. Some projects need a Planning approval first.
Use the local sequence, not the mailing address. A Kings Mountain postal address does not by itself prove which agency should receive the application.
Kings Mountain building department: who handles permitting
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | City of Kings Mountain Inspections & Codes Department |
| Contact | 704-734-4599 (fax 704-730-2106) |
| Office | 1013 N Piedmont Avenue, Kings Mountain, NC 28086; Mon–Fri, 7:30 a.m.–4:00 p.m. |
Clint Houser is the Inspections and Codes Director (704-734-4561). Kings Mountain separates development review from code enforcement. The Planning Department (101 W Gold Street, 704-734-4595) handles zoning approvals and development services, while Inspections & Codes enforces the State Building Code.
Kings Mountain permit types and filing path
The filing path depends on scope. Building records cover structural construction and alterations; electrical, mechanical, plumbing and fuel-gas work may require trade permits; zoning, land-development, sign, fire, grading, floodplain or environmental approvals can be separate records.
Primary filing route: OpenGov. Applicants without internet access can apply in person at the Inspections and Codes Department.
The City’s OpenGov help sheet lists residential building, commercial building, commercial plan review, trades, accessory building/structures, manufactured home, Moss Lake, fire protection, demolition, sign and change-of-use projects. Pick the project that matches the scope of work.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →An existing commercial building needs a Change of Use permit whenever the use or occupancy classification changes, or to get a Certificate of Occupancy for the space. It is not approval for any construction; work needs its own building permit. To energize permanent electrical service before the Certificate of Occupancy, file the City’s Pre Final Electric Application.
Permit fees in Kings Mountain
The City’s Fee Schedule prices new homes and commercial buildings at 0.4% of the project cost or of the value from the latest February ICC Building Valuation Data, whichever is higher. Smaller jobs use flat or per-$1,000 fees, and all fees are rounded to the nearest dollar.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New home or addition, all trades included | Project cost or ICC valuation × 0.004 |
| Remodel, all trades | $0.15 per sq ft of remodel area, $100 minimum |
| Storage building, detached garage or carport, up to 144 sq ft | $30 |
| Accessory building, 145–600 sq ft | $50, plus $60 per trade |
| Deck, dock, ramp or retaining wall | $60 plus $3 per $1,000 of cost |
| Swimming pool, above-ground / in-ground | $100 / $250 |
| Single-wide / multi-wide mobile home set-up | $300 / $400 |
| Demolition | $50 per structure |
| Zoning fee | $50 |
| Driveway onto a city street | $25 |
| Homeowner Recovery Fee (licensed GC) | $10 |
For example, a new home with a $300,000 valuation is charged a $1,200 permit fee, plus the $50 zoning fee and, where it applies, the driveway and Homeowner Recovery fees.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New building or addition, all trades | Project cost or ICC valuation × 0.004 |
| Remodel or upfit, all trades | Project cost × 0.004, $200 minimum |
| Plan review | 15% of the permit fee |
| Pool | Project cost × 0.0033, $250 minimum |
| Sign, or fence 6 feet or higher | $75 plus $3 per $1,000 of cost |
| Grading, 1 acre or more | $200 |
| Construction trailer | $60 |
| Demolition | $100 per structure |
| Change of use / Certificate of Occupancy | $50 |
Work started without a permit pays double fees. A third inspection trip costs $50 and a not-ready inspection $100. An expired permit can be reactivated within 6 months for 50% of the permit fee; after that a new application, review and fee are needed. Permit fees can be refunded within 60 days of issue if no work has been done, but plan review fees are not refundable.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits
Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and refrigeration work is filed as a separate Trades Permit in OpenGov. Inspections & Codes also issues fire protection permits for sprinklers, alarms, tank removal and fireworks.
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Residential single trade | $60 plus $3 per $1,000 of cost |
| Commercial single trade | $75 plus $3 per $1,000 of cost |
| HVAC change-out, mechanical and electrical on one permit | Same as a single trade |
| Gas piping pressure test only | $25 |
| Pre-final electrical (power before CO) | $50 |
| Fire protection | $75 plus $3 per $1,000, plus plan review |
| Sprinkler review | $100 up to 100 heads, $0.25 per head above |
| Fire alarm review | $50 up to $100,000; $100 to $500,000; $250 above |
An HVAC change-out permit covers only reconnecting the equipment; a new receptacle or service upgrade needs its own electrical permit.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Alliance handles electrical permit filing for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.
Application documents and plan review
Upload the permit application, construction plans and project information in OpenGov. Commercial applicants may also submit a Commercial Plan Review application before the building permit when early plan review is needed; the review fee is then billed with the building permit and paid before it is issued. Commercial plan review takes 1 to 3 weeks.
The application must name a lien agent when the project cost is $40,000 or more, except for improvements to an existing single-family home the owner lives in. Testing, abatement and disposal of asbestos during remodels or demolition is the applicant’s responsibility, not the City’s.
For a new septic system, apply in OpenGov, get a pre-approval letter from the Planning Department (704-734-4595), then obtain an Improvement Permit from Cleveland County ((980) 484-4779) or Gaston County ((704) 853-5200) Environmental Health, depending on the property. Upload the Improvement Permit to the OpenGov building record. If an addition or new building will not increase the flow or strength of an existing septic system, an Improvement Permit may not be needed: upload a completed Appendix H with the building permit application instead.
Before you file
- 01 — Confirm whether the parcel is inside Kings Mountain jurisdiction.
- 02 — Complete zoning/development approvals required by Planning.
- 03 — Create the correct OpenGov project and upload plans.
- 04 — For septic sites, obtain the appropriate county Environmental Health approval when required.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →How to apply — 6-step Kings Mountain workflow
Check that the parcel is inside Kings Mountain city limits.
Get any zoning or site approval from Planning, and any county Environmental Health approval for septic sites.
Gather plans, contractor information and prior approvals for the OpenGov project type.
Apply in OpenGov and upload the plans with the building permit application.
City staff notify you in OpenGov of needed revisions, payments or other information.
Request inspections from the active OpenGov record and complete the final or certificate of occupancy step.
Inspections and closeout in Kings Mountain
Schedule inspections from the active record in OpenGov or call Inspections & Codes at 704-734-4599. Requests made by 5:30 p.m. are carried out the next business day. You can ask for a morning or afternoon slot, or call the inspector before 8:00 a.m. on the day for a closer time. A guaranteed on-time inspection costs $120 in normal hours, $240 at weekends and $480 on holidays. Results show in your OpenGov account.
Live Remote Inspections are optional video inspections over Microsoft Teams, requested by 5:30 p.m. the day before. The inspector calls between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m. to set a time. They are allowed for water and sewer lines up to 100 feet, shower pans, residential rooftop solar, porch columns, residential HVAC change-outs, manufactured home marriage lines and re-inspections of up to four minor violations. Gas work and other electrical inspections must be done on site, and you need a 4G signal and a phone or tablet with Teams.
To dispute an inspector’s decision, send the City’s internal review request form to the Inspections & Codes Director by email or deliver it to the office.
Local details that matter in Kings Mountain
Because Kings Mountain spans Cleveland and Gaston counties, county-level environmental-health coordination can depend on the parcel even though the City itself handles the building permit.
Moss Lake construction has its own project type in OpenGov, and the City’s fee schedule prices docks and seawalls as accessory structures at $60 plus $3 per $1,000 of cost, plus the zoning fee. Reinstalling a meter, or restoring an electric account inactive for a year or longer, carries a $50 electrical restoration fee.
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
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 Office of State Fire Marshal — current codes
- OpenGov permit help
- City permits and services
- City Inspections & Codes
- Kings Mountain OpenGov permitting portal
- Kings Mountain permit fee schedule
- Live Remote Inspections procedure
- Change of Use guidance
Kings Mountain permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Kings Mountain?
The City of Kings Mountain Inspections & Codes Department, at 1013 N Piedmont Avenue, for property inside city limits.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit for a new house in Kings Mountain?
0.4% of the project cost or the ICC valuation, whichever is higher, with all trades included, plus a $50 zoning fee. A $300,000 home is $1,200 before zoning, driveway and Homeowner Recovery fees.
Do I need a permit for a shed or deck in Kings Mountain?
Yes. A storage building up to 144 sq ft is $30 and one of 145 to 600 sq ft is $50, plus the zoning fee. Decks are $60 plus $3 per $1,000 of cost.
How are inspections scheduled?
Through the active OpenGov record or by calling 704-734-4599. Requests made by 5:30 p.m. are performed the next business day.
Can I get a video inspection in Kings Mountain?
Yes, for certain jobs such as HVAC change-outs, shower pans, short water and sewer lines and rooftop solar. Request a Live Remote Inspection by 5:30 p.m. the day before.
How long does commercial plan review take?
The City states 1 to 3 weeks. Plan review costs 15% of the permit fee.
What are the department hours?
Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Simplify Kings Mountain permitting with Alliance Permitting
Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in North Carolina. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.
Ready to break ground in Kings Mountain sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Kings Mountain permits while your crew stays on the job.
More North Carolina permitting guides
Archdale
Read guide →Clayton
Read guide →Davidson
Read guide →Knightdale Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Laurinburg Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Lee County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Kings Mountain permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.