The City of New Bern Development Services Inspections Division permits and inspects all building construction in the city limits and the City’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). City guidance places zoning approval before building-permit review and adds separate site-plan, fire and historic-preservation reviews when they apply.
What requires a permit in New Bern?
New Bern requires a building permit for structural work, for projects costing $40,000 or more, and for accessory structures 12 feet or more in any dimension. Electrical, mechanical, plumbing and insulation permits are required for new construction and renovations, and gas permits for gas lines and appliances. Floodplain permits apply to properties in a floodplain.
Who issues permits in New Bern?
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Primary authority | City of New Bern Development Services, Inspections Division |
| Contact | Inspections (252) 639-2942; Planning & Zoning Administrator (252) 639-7582 |
| Location | 303 First Street, New Bern, NC 28560 |
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Get a free quote →New Bern permit types and filing path
Start by confirming zoning and the parcel’s City/ETJ status. New Bern requires an approved zoning permit before a new business opens, and building-permit applications and plans go to the Inspections Division after zoning approval. Site plan review is required for new commercial development involving construction, exterior alteration (including outdoor seating and parking lot changes), relocation, occupancy or change of use.
The City publishes these approximate turnaround times: zoning permits five to seven business days, site plan review one to three months, building plan review about two weeks, and historic district Certificates of Appropriateness up to seven weeks or longer.
Permit fees in New Bern
New Bern’s fees are listed in the City’s FY27 Schedule of Fees and Charges. The City warns that it does not accept payment by wire transfer.
Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas coordination
The Inspections Division issues electrical, mechanical, plumbing, insulation and gas permits along with building permits. On a multi-trade project, keep each trade permit tied to the same address.
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Application documents and plan review
For building review, New Bern directs applicants to submit a completed permit application and plans showing the proposed improvements and building features. Commercial development can require site-plan material before building review. Historic-district properties may need a Certificate of Appropriateness for exterior changes, signs or tree removal, and commercial occupancies can require fire review.
Before you file
- Check that the parcel is inside New Bern city limits or its ETJ.
- Get the zoning permit, and site plan or historic district approval where needed.
- Download the current permit application from the City’s Inspections page.
How to apply — 6-step New Bern workflow
Check that the property is inside New Bern city limits or its ETJ.
Obtain the zoning permit, and site plan or Certificate of Appropriateness approval where needed.
Complete the building permit application with plans showing all improvements and building features.
Submit the application and plans to the Inspections Division at 303 First Street.
Answer review comments on the same permit.
Request required inspections, resolve failed items and obtain the certificate of occupancy.
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Inspections and closeout in New Bern
The City’s Inspections Division inspects permitted work inside the city limits and ETJ; Craven County’s inspections office does not handle these projects. For inspection questions, call (252) 639-2942. Commercial properties also receive an initial fire inspection from the Fire Department, followed by periodic inspections.
Do not conceal work that is subject to inspection before the required inspection has been completed. Use the permit record to confirm the exact inspection sequence and closeout status for the project.
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Local details that matter in New Bern
Zoning, site planning, building review, fire and historic preservation are separate approvals in New Bern. In a local historic district, a Certificate of Appropriateness is required for any exterior change to the building or site, including signs and tree removal. Fire Department permits, such as for storage tanks and tents, use their own applications.
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 →New Bern permit FAQ
Who issues New Bern building permits?
The City of New Bern Inspections Division issues building permits for the city limits and its ETJ.
Does zoning come before building review?
City Development Services guidance directs applicants to obtain zoning approval before the building-permit application and plans move to Inspections.
When can site-plan review apply?
The City identifies site-plan review for new commercial development involving construction, exterior alteration, relocation, occupancy or change of use.
Can historic-district work require another approval?
Yes. New Bern guidance states that a Certificate of Appropriateness is required for specified exterior modifications in a local historic district.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Are fire approvals separate?
Yes. Commercial properties get an initial fire inspection and periodic inspections after that, and Fire Department permits use their own applications.
Simplify New Bern 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.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about New Bern permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.