Matthews has no building inspections department of its own: Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (LUESA) issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits through the AccelaMeck portal and inspects the work, while Town Planning & Development handles rezonings, site plans and signs. County fees are set by construction value, starting at a $59.70 minimum, plus a $3 technology charge.
What requires a permit in Matthews?
Mecklenburg County requires permits for new construction, alterations, repairs, moving or demolishing a building, and for installing or changing electrical, mechanical and plumbing systems. Separate permits are issued for building, electrical, heating and air conditioning, and plumbing work. Most commercial projects and residential new homes and additions go through County plan review first.
County (LUESA)
- New homes, townhomes, additions and remodels
- Accessory buildings and structures
- Commercial buildings, upfits and equipment change-outs
- Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work
- Demolition, move-on and move-off
- Signs and special event structures
Town of Matthews
- Rezonings and conditional zoning plans
- Site plan, elevation, landscape, lighting and parking review
- Sign permits and master sign plans
- Driveway permits on Town streets
- Early grading permits and stormwater concept plans
- Short-term rental zoning permits
Matthews building department: who handles permitting
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary authority | Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement |
| Contact | 980-314-CODE (2633); LUESA local office (980) 314-3234 |
| Location / hours | 2145 Suttle Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28208; Mon–Fri 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Matthews permit types and filing path
Use AccelaMeck for new building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing projects. Mecklenburg County identifies AccelaMeck as the preferred portal for customer projects and provides workflows for residential and commercial applications, plan review, trade permits, revisions and inspection requests. Matthews Planning & Development remains the local source for Town land-use questions and municipal requirements outside the County code-enforcement record.
A building permit does not replace zoning, fire, utility, environmental-health or right-of-way approvals when those are separately required. Matthews Planning & Development is reached at 704-847-4411, Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The County runs several permit streams: plan review permits for new construction and additions; Trade Internet Permitting (TIP) for contractor trade work that needs no building permit; Homeowner Internet Permitting (HIP) for owners doing their own work; and separate demolition, sign and special event permits.
Permit fees in Matthews
County building permits are priced on total construction permit value under the LUESA Fee Ordinance (revised July 1, 2026). The value is the higher of the owner’s figure, including labor, materials and contractor and design fees but not land, or the County’s own building valuation calculation.
| Construction value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $1–$3,000 | $59.70 minimum |
| $3,001–$50,000 | $59.70 plus $12.19 per $1,000 over $3,000 |
| $50,001–$100,000 | $632.57 plus $5.49 per $1,000 over $50,000 |
| $100,001–$150,000 | $907.12 plus $5.93 per $1,000 over $100,000 |
| $150,001–$250,000 | $1,203.52 plus $4.59 per $1,000 over $150,000 |
| $250,001–$1,000,000 | $1,662.37 plus $5.05 per $1,000 over $250,000 |
| Remodels, upfits and projects under $100,000 | $79.61 per trade plus $0.12 per sq ft (building) and $0.08 per sq ft per trade |
| Technology charge | $3 per permit |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →For example, a project valued at $300,000 works out to $1,662.37 plus $252.50, or $1,914.87, before the $3 technology charge. New homes of 1,500 heated sq ft or less that qualify as affordable housing are valued at $52 per heated sq ft and $26 per unheated sq ft.
| Review | Fee |
|---|---|
| Site plan, elevation, landscape or parking review, Town / Accela approval | $250 / $400 |
| Third or later submittal | $200 |
| Sign permit review | $100 per sign |
| Temporary sign | $25 |
| Zoning verification letter | $75 per parcel |
| Driveway permit review, single site | $100 |
| Early grading permit | $400 |
| Short-term rental zoning permit | $250 per year |
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement issues the electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for Matthews projects. For trade work with no building permit, contractors use Trade Internet Permitting in AccelaMeck to apply, pay and print the permit at any hour, then request inspections once the work is done. The mechanical contractor is the primary contractor when a job needs mechanical, electrical and plumbing work; the plumber leads on an electric water heater change-out. On one- and two-family change-outs, the secondary trade permits cost 50% of the primary trade’s fee.
Alliance handles electrical permits for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Application documents and plan review
AccelaMeck publishes separate submission guidance for single- and two-family plan review, townhouses, additions, alterations, accessory structures, pools, solar, commercial plan review, upfits and specialty processes. Assemble the packet for the actual record type and coordinate any Town of Matthews planning or right-of-way requirements before treating the County building permit as the only approval.
For Town zoning and site plan applications, the Town asks that submissions follow within 10 days of a joint presubmission and Post Construction Ordinance meeting with Matthews Planning and Mecklenburg County staff.
County residential plan review covers new homes, two-family homes and townhomes of three stories or fewer, plus additions, remodels that add heated space and accessory buildings. Small commercial plan review handles business, mercantile and storage interiors up to 10,000 sq ft. Plan review is almost entirely paperless.
Before you file
- Check that the parcel is inside the Town of Matthews.
- Clear any Town zoning, site plan or sign review before the building permit.
- Register for AccelaMeck, the County’s preferred portal.
How to apply — 6-step Matthews workflow
Check that the property is inside the Town of Matthews.
Complete any Town zoning, site plan or sign review that must come first.
Follow the AccelaMeck submission guidance for the project type.
Upload plans and pay fees in AccelaMeck.
Submit revisions on the same permit record.
Request inspections in AccelaMeck or by phone, resolve failed items and obtain the certificate of occupancy.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Inspections and closeout in Matthews
Schedule County inspections in AccelaMeck or by calling 980-314-CODE, option 2, then 2 again; results are posted online. The County’s residential sequence runs from footing and under-slab (before concrete) through foundation, rough-in, framing and insulation to the finals, and an optional sheathing inspection is available for $50 a visit. Once every final passes and any outside agency holds are cleared, the certificate is issued.
Failed inspections are settled at the Certificate of Occupancy: the County compares the project’s failure rate with its fee adjustment schedule and charges or credits the permit holder. Small projects pay at least $25 per permit; larger projects pay no more than $90 per failed inspection and can earn credits. Live remote inspections are available for some residential work, such as HVAC and water heater change-outs, re-roofs and minor re-inspections, with on-demand slots from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Local details that matter in Matthews
Matthews projects often involve both the Town and the County. Town Planning & Development handles zoning changes, site plans, signs and land-use questions, while Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement handles the building-code permit. Zoning map amendment applications are due on the first business day of each month, and the Town accepts up to 3 complete applications per cycle; later ones roll to the next month. Revisions for Board of Commissioners review must be in 10 business days before the Board’s zoning meeting. Planning staff can also tell you whether a storage building can be added to a lot.
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.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →- NC OSFM current codes
- Mecklenburg County inspections
- AccelaMeck portal guidance
- Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement
- Matthews Planning & Development
- Mecklenburg County LUESA Fee Ordinance
- Town of Matthews fee schedule
- Mecklenburg County homeowner permits
- Mecklenburg County trade internet permits
- Mecklenburg County residential inspection schedule
Matthews permit FAQ
Who issues building permits in Matthews?
Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (LUESA) issues building and trade permits and carries out inspections. The Town handles rezonings, site plans and signs.
How much is a building permit in Matthews?
The County fee depends on construction value: $59.70 minimum, rising by band (for example $907.12 plus $5.93 per $1,000 over $100,000), and $1,914.87 for a $300,000 project, plus a $3 technology charge.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Can a homeowner pull a permit in Matthews?
Yes, if you own the home, are on the deed and live there. Projects under $40,000 can be permitted through a homeowner account in AccelaMeck; larger ones need a bond account and an Owner Exemption Affidavit.
How are inspections scheduled?
Through AccelaMeck or by calling 980-314-CODE, option 2, then 2 again.
What happens if an inspection fails?
The County adjusts the permit fee at the Certificate of Occupancy based on the project’s failure rate, up to $90 per failed inspection on larger projects.
How much is a sign permit in Matthews?
The Town charges $100 per sign for permit review and $25 for a temporary sign under its FY27 fee schedule.
Simplify Matthews 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 Matthews sooner?
Let Alliance prepare, file, and track your Matthews permits while your crew stays on the job.
More North Carolina permitting guides
Mecklenburg County
Read guide →Charlotte
Read guide →Cornelius
Read guide →McDowell County Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Mebane Building Permit Guide
Read guide →Mint Hill Building Permit Guide
Read guide →This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Matthews permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.