Madison County’s Inspections Department in Marshall enforces the state building code across the county and issues building permits after a signed project checklist has been walked through County Planning, Environmental Health, Mapping and Solid Waste. A single house gets one permit covering all trades; on a slab or crawlspace it costs $757 at 2,000–2,499 sq ft under the FY 2024–25 fee schedule. Inspections must be called in by 3:00 p.m. the day before.
What requires a permit in Madison County?
The County requires a permit for all new construction, alterations and renovations. General repairs are excluded unless they add to, change or alter what is already there. The fee schedule lists the permit types:
Residential
- New houses on a slab, crawlspace or full basement
- Additions and renovations
- Workshops, detached garages and barns
- Single, double and triple-wide mobile homes, and travel trailers
- Decks, pools and retaining walls
- Structural and foundation repairs
- Stand-alone electrical, plumbing, mechanical and generator permits
Commercial
- New buildings, additions and renovations
- Separate electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits, or a combo permit
- Retaining walls
- ABC and daycare inspections
- Communication towers
- Temporary certificates of occupancy
Who handles permitting in Madison County?
The Inspections Department enforces the North Carolina Building Code. Its project checklist sends applicants to County Planning (Room 15), Environmental Health (Room 26) and Mapping (Room 24) before Building Inspections (Room 19).
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →| Office | Contact |
|---|---|
| Inspections | 5707 US 25-70 Hwy, Suite 5, Room 19, Marshall, NC 28753; 828-649-3766; fax 828-649-2479 |
| Hours | 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday |
| Environmental Health (septic) | Room 26; 828-649-9598 |
| Planning and Mapping | Rooms 15 and 24 |
| Solid Waste | 271 Craig Rudisill Road, Marshall |
The County has had zoning since 1974, and each of the three towns has its own zoning ordinance:
| Area | Who handles it |
|---|---|
| Mars Hill | The Town issues a zoning permit, which must be part of the Madison County building permit application; 828-689-2301 |
| Hot Springs | The Town issues zoning compliance ($40) and watershed ($50) permits at Town Hall; 828-622-7591 |
| Marshall | The Town’s Zoning Administrator (828-251-7428) handles zoning under its Unified Development Ordinance; a zoning compliance permit or a residential plan review is $30 under the Town’s FY 2026–27 fee schedule. Town Hall: 828-649-3031 |
| Unincorporated county | County Planning signs off zoning, then Madison County Inspections issues the permit |
The County’s project checklist includes a Town Planning step for compliance with town ordinances, water and sewer before the building permit.
Applications and forms
Applications are on the County’s Planning Forms page, and completed forms can be emailed to the address given there. Stand-alone permits can be paid online through MuniPay.
- Residential, Commercial and Mobile Home permit applications (updated June 2026)
- RV and Park Model, Miscellaneous Building and Communications Tower applications
- Stand-alone Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, Combo and Emergency Generator permits
- Appendix B building code summary for commercial plans
- Affidavit of Workers’ Compensation Coverage, Lien Agent Information and the Owner Contractor Licensing Exemption
- Project Checklist, filled out and signed
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Madison County permit fees
The Inspections Fee Schedule posted on the forms page is for FY 2024–25. New homes and additions are charged by square-footage band.
| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house on slab or crawlspace, 0–999 / 1,000–1,499 sq ft | $410 / $505 |
| New house on slab or crawlspace, 1,500–1,999 / 2,000–2,499 sq ft | $631 / $757 |
| New house on slab or crawlspace, 2,500 sq ft and up | $884 plus $0.35 per additional sq ft |
| New house on full basement, 0–999 / 2,000–2,499 sq ft | $505 / $852 |
| New house on full basement, 2,500 sq ft and up | $947 plus $0.35 per additional sq ft |
| Addition, 0–499 / 1,000–1,499 sq ft | $284 / $442 |
| Renovation or accessory building, 0–499 / 1,000–1,499 sq ft | $284 / $379 |
| Mobile home, single / double / triple wide | $158 / $196 / $221 |
| Deck (not covered) / pool / retaining wall | $145 / $158 / $63 |
| Structural repair / foundation repair | $95 / $126 |
The schedule also lists sub-contractor fees for new construction, from $410 for 0–999 sq ft to $536 for 2,000–2,499 sq ft, and $600 plus $0.13 per additional sq ft above that.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →| Project | Fee |
|---|---|
| New commercial building, 0–999 / 2,000–2,499 sq ft | $536 / $694 |
| New commercial building, 2,500 sq ft and up | $600 plus $0.23 per additional sq ft |
| Commercial addition or renovation, 0–999 sq ft | $442 |
| Commercial electrical, plumbing or mechanical / combo | $151 each / $278 |
| Commercial retaining wall | $379 |
| ABC permit / daycare | $126 / $63 |
Residential re-inspections cost $76 and commercial re-inspections $189. Building without a permit costs $379 plus the permit fee for a first residential offence and $757 plus the fee for a second; the commercial schedule lists $631 and $1,262. Renewing an expired permit costs 50% of the original fee, and a temporary Certificate of Occupancy is $50 residential or $100 commercial. The County’s FY 2025–26 report shows $333,138 in inspection fee revenue against $318,947 in costs.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits
A single dwelling gets one permit that covers all trades. For anything else, each trade needs its own permit: residential stand-alone electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits are $88 each, or $139 for a combo permit covering more than one trade. A stand-alone emergency generator permit uses the combo form.
The project checklist
Before Building Inspections takes the application, the County’s project checklist must be completed in this order, with a signature at each stop:
Rather not deal with the Madison County building department?
Get a free quote →- County Planning (Room 15): compliance with the County ordinances listed on the form (LUO, MRPO, WSPO and FDP); in a town, the town planning sign-off for ordinances, water and sewer
- Environmental Health (Room 26): septic construction authorisation or operation permit for a new, repaired or expanded system
- Mapping (Room 24): a map with the driveway marked and a completed address request form
- Solid Waste: waste disposal plan and trash card
- Building Inspections (Room 19): plan review, inspections and the Certificate of Occupancy
Bring the completed permit forms and plans of the structure. Floodplain fact sheets on the forms page cover development permits and repairs to flood-damaged and historic buildings.
How to get a building permit in Madison County
In Mars Hill or Hot Springs, get the Town’s zoning permit; in Marshall, ask Town Hall.
Get the first checklist signature for county ordinance compliance.
Get the Environmental Health septic authorisation.
Request the address in Mapping and get the trash card.
Submit the application, plans and signed checklist, and pay the fee.
Work and a first inspection must happen within 180 days.
Inspections in Madison County
Call 828-649-3766 by 3:00 p.m. the day before you want an inspection. Inspections in the Spring Creek, Hot Springs, Big Laurel and Shelton Laurel areas are done only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, so plan those jobs around the two days.
After the first inspection, the next one must follow within 365 days or the permit lapses. Building Inspections issues the Certificate of Occupancy when the work passes.
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
Madison County permit search and official resources
- Madison County inspections and zoning FAQ
- Madison County permit forms
- Madison County Inspections and Zoning
- Inspections Fee Schedule FY 2024-25
- Project Checklist
- Inspections links and town contacts
- Town of Mars Hill Planning & Zoning
- Town of Hot Springs Planning & Zoning
Madison County permit FAQ
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How much is a building permit for a new house in Madison County?
On a slab or crawlspace, $631 for 1,500–1,999 sq ft and $757 for 2,000–2,499 sq ft; a full basement adds $95 in each band up to 2,499 sq ft.
Do I need separate trade permits for a new house?
No. A single dwelling gets one permit that covers all trades. Other projects need a permit for each trade.
When do I have to call for inspections?
By 3:00 p.m. the day before. Spring Creek, Hot Springs, Big Laurel and Shelton Laurel are inspected on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
How long is a permit good for?
You have 6 months to start and get a first inspection, then up to a year between inspections.
Who issues building permits in Mars Hill?
Madison County, after the Town of Mars Hill issues its zoning permit.
Do repairs need a permit?
General repairs do not, unless they add to, change or alter what is already there. Structural repairs are $95 and foundation repairs $126.
Simplify Madison County 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 Madison County sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Madison County permits while your crew stays on the job.
More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Madison County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.