Pasquotank County, North Carolina Building Permit Guide

Outside Elizabeth City, building and trade permits in Pasquotank County are issued by the County’s Planning & Inspections department on the ground floor of the courthouse at 206 E Main Street (252-338-1144), and applications go in through its iWorQ portal. A new house is charged a $50 minimum plus $0.30 per sq ft under the fee schedule effective July 1, 2023, with electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits on top.

When does Pasquotank County require a permit?

A driveway onto a state-maintained road may still need an NCDOT driveway permit; the County points owners to the local NCDOT office at 252-621-6400.

Who issues permits in Pasquotank County?

The County’s inspectors enforce the building and trade codes within the County’s territorial jurisdiction, which is everywhere outside Elizabeth City. Planning & Inspections is one department under a Director of Planning & Inspections, with Stanley Ward as Chief Building Inspector.

Online applications and printable forms

The County’s iWorQ portal takes residential, commercial, manufactured or modular home, accessory building and crawl space permit applications, and the same portal is used to schedule inspections and search permits.

Printable versions are on the Building Inspections page: residential, commercial and manufactured/modular applications; new electrical, gas, mechanical and plumbing permits; a demolition permit; culvert installation; the gas affidavit; the owner affidavit and a separate trade owner exemption affidavit; a termite protection form; the required electrical warning; a dry floodproofing certificate for non-residential buildings; the FEMA elevation certificate; and Appendix H.

Pasquotank County permit fees

Both fee schedules are marked effective July 1, 2023. Each permit has a minimum fee, and the per-square-foot or per-item charges are added to it unless the schedule says otherwise.

For a new 2,000 sq ft house built by a general contractor, the building permit is $50 plus $600, and the $10 state fee brings it to $660, before the electrical, plumbing, mechanical and insulation permits.

Manufactured homes are priced separately: set-up costs $200 for a single-section home and $300 for a multi-section home, a modular home $350, plus $50 for the electrical permit and $75 each for mechanical and plumbing.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas permits

Every plumbing, electrical or mechanical job needs its own County permit, whatever its cost.

Commercial electrical and plumbing permits start at a $75 minimum. On commercial jobs the schedule also lists fuel tanks at $250 each, fire alarm installations at $100 each, ABC licence and day care inspections at $100, wind turbines at $1,000 per tower and solar farms at $1,000 plus $10 per panel.

Paperwork before the permit is issued

• The completed permit application.
• An address assigned by the County GIS Department.
• A site plan, roughly to scale, showing property-line setbacks, existing buildings and roads, the driveway and the size and position of the new work. It does not have to be drawn by a surveyor or engineer.
• Building plans. Metal or structural steel accessory buildings need plans stamped and signed by a North Carolina engineer.
• Septic approval from Environmental Health for new construction, or Appendix H, the existing-system affidavit, for sheds, pools, decks, carports, garages and additions that will not affect the septic system.
• A CAMA permit for building over the water or within 75 feet of it.
• A lien agent appointment when the project costs $40,000 or more and subcontractors are used.
• The notarized Owner Exemption Affidavit when the project costs $40,000 or more and the homeowner is the general contractor.
• An Elevation Certificate for every new structure in the AE flood zone, unless it is open so water can flow through.

Applying in Pasquotank County

Inspection stages in Pasquotank County

Inspections are scheduled through the iWorQ portal. For new construction the County lists seven stages: footing; under-slab for habitable space; foundation; rough-in and framing; insulation; power release, once all rough-ins and the insulation inspection have passed; and the finals, with the building final usually last.

An optional sheathing inspection lets you get house wrap, flashing, lintels, windows and doors checked so siding can go on before the full framing inspection, or have areas behind tubs, fireplaces and chases looked at early; add a customer comment to the request saying which. Blown-in ceiling insulation can wait for the final if every area is reachable. The certificate of occupancy is issued once all finals pass and any holds from other agencies are cleared. A re-inspection costs $100.

Local Pasquotank County details

Flood zones: the County asks owners in a flood zone to contact Planning & Inspections before starting any project, since any work in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a permit. Non-residential buildings that are dry floodproofed need the County’s floodproofing certificate, and culverts have their own elevation form.

Inspection fee reports: the department posts annual inspection fee reports for 2023, 2024 and 2025 on its page.

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

Pasquotank County permit search and official resources

• Pasquotank County applications
• Pasquotank County Building Inspections (permit rules, checklist, inspections)
• Pasquotank County iWorQ permits and inspection scheduling
• Residential permit fee schedule, effective July 1, 2023 (PDF)
• Commercial permit fee schedule, effective July 1, 2023 (PDF)
• Appendix H existing wastewater system affidavit (PDF)
• Elizabeth City Development Services

Pasquotank County permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Pasquotank County?

Pasquotank County Planning & Inspections for everything outside Elizabeth City; inside the city, Elizabeth City’s Building Inspections Division.

How much is a building permit for a new house?

$50 plus $0.30 per sq ft, and a $10 state fee when a general contractor builds. A 2,000 sq ft house is $660 before the trade permits.

Do I need a permit for a shed in Pasquotank County?

Not for a shed of 144 sq ft (12 by 12 feet) or less. Larger sheds need a permit, and metal or steel buildings need engineer-stamped plans.

Do I need a permit for a fence?

No, but the fence cannot be in a drainage easement or taller than 6 feet.

Do I need a permit to replace my roof?

Not to replace shingles alone. Replacing the plywood decking underneath needs a permit.

When does a remodel need a permit?

When it costs more than $40,000, affects load-bearing walls or enlarges the footprint; G.S. 160D-1110(c) raised the cost limit from the $15,000 still shown in the County’s guidelines. Any plumbing, electrical or mechanical work needs a permit regardless of cost.

What does a failed inspection cost?

The re-inspection or negligence fee is $100.

Simplify Pasquotank 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.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Pasquotank County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.