Reidsville, North Carolina Building Permit Guide

The City of Reidsville issues its own building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing and sign permits through the Department of Planning & Community Development at City Hall, 230 W. Morehead Street. Every application, including the zoning permit that new buildings, additions and accessory buildings need first, is filed online in the City’s iWorQ Citizen Portal. A building permit costs a $60 base fee plus $8 per $1,000 of project cost up to $50,000, and inspections are booked by phone on 336-349-1065.

What requires a permit in Reidsville?

The City’s online applications show the work it permits. Residential and non-residential building permits are separate applications, and trade work has its own permit.

The City’s own examples of work that needs a permit include finishing a basement or converting a garage or attic into living space, replacing HVAC systems, ductwork or water heaters, adding or upgrading circuits and panels, new plumbing lines, garages, carports and sheds, pools, roof replacements involving structural elements, and repairs after fire, storm or water damage. The City says the list is not complete; call the Inspections Department if unsure.

A separate zoning permit, with a site plan, is needed for new construction, additions and accessory buildings.

Reidsville building department: who handles permitting

Building inspections, trade permits and zoning all sit in the City’s Department of Planning & Community Development, which has separate phone lines: 336-349-1068 for Planning & Zoning and 336-349-1065 for Building Inspections and Trade Permits. The inspections email is inspections@reidsvillenc.gov. Reidsville is in Rockingham County, but the City, not the County, issues permits for property inside city limits.

Charles Williams is the City’s Building Code Administrator, and the department is led by Drew Bigelow, Director of Planning and Community Development. Site plans and subdivision plats are reviewed separately (platreview@reidsvillenc.gov, 336-349-1066).

Reidsville permit types and filing path

All applications are filed in the City’s iWorQ Citizen Portal, which also has a permit search by permit number, address or applicant name. The portal has six applications:

• Zoning Permit Application: needs a linked contractor with a current licence, the parcel number for any new construction and a site plan showing setback dimensions.
• Residential Building Permit Application: asks for the total construction cost (labor, materials and all trades), square footage by area (conditioned space, garage, porches, decks) and whether the work includes electrical, plumbing, mechanical, roofing, window or siding changes.
• Non-Residential Building Permit Application: also asks for the construction type and occupancy classification.
• Trade Permit Application: electrical, mechanical, plumbing, refrigeration and water-based fire protection.
• Sign Permit Application: sign type, height and width.
• Mobile Food Vendor Application.

Building applications must include, where they apply, one of the City’s forms: the Owner Exemption Affidavit, the Workers’ Compensation Coverage Affidavit, the Appendix G form or the Contractor Information Form.

Permit fees in Reidsville

Fees come from the City’s FY 2026–2027 Fee Schedule, adopted June 9, 2026 and effective July 1, 2026. The building permit is priced on project cost: for new buildings, additions and accessory structures the cost is calculated from the latest International Code Council (ICC) Building Valuation Data table, which the Inspections office can provide; for renovations it is the total construction cost (labor, materials and all trades) on the application.

For example, a $50,000 renovation pays $60 plus $400, or $460, before trade permits. Replacing equipment on an existing building, such as an HVAC unit, generator or water heater, takes one permit fee per unit. Starting work before getting the permit doubles the fee.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas coordination

Each trade is permitted through the City’s Trade Permit Application in the portal, with the contract price or project cost, the trade (electrical, mechanical, plumbing, refrigeration or water-based fire protection) and the specific job, such as a residential or commercial service with its amperage, a gas furnace, heat pump or gas piping, plumbing fixtures with a count, or a backflow device. On a building project the Contractor Information Form lists every trade contractor with their licence number and a detailed scope of work.

Temporary power: to use part of the permanent wiring during construction, the general and electrical contractors sign the City’s Application and Agreement for Temporary Electrical Power and email it to inspections@reidsvillenc.gov. No permanent wiring may be energized until the City’s electrical inspector has inspected and released it, and the building may not be occupied until all finals are complete.

Alliance handles electrical permits for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.

Application documents and plan review

Owner-builders: the Owner Exemption Affidavit must be notarised. The owner promises to supervise the work, be present for every required inspection (unless the plans were sealed by a licensed architect) and occupy the building for 12 months after completion without renting, leasing or selling it. The City sends a copy to the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors to check the exemption.

How to apply: 6-step Reidsville workflow

Inspections and closeout in Reidsville

The City directs applicants to call 336-349-1065 to schedule inspections. It states inspections are conducted Monday through Friday based on inspector availability and are offered on a morning or afternoon basis.

Either the general contractor or a trade contractor may call for inspections, but the general contractor is responsible for any re-inspection fees. Re-inspection fees start after the initial inspection and one follow-up, and must be paid before the re-inspection; the iWorQ portal takes re-inspection fee payments and shows inspection results. Owner-builders must be present for every required inspection.

Local Reidsville details that matter

Floodplain and stormwater: Planning & Community Development handles stormwater, watershed and floodplain compliance; a floodplain permit and a stormwater permit cost $100 each, and zoning or flood certification letters $40 (residential) or $75 (commercial).

Historic district: work needing a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Historic Preservation Commission costs $30 for minor work and $100 for major work.

Work in the City right-of-way: a separate permit is priced by how long the work will take, from $20 for one or two days to $200 for 11–30 days, then $10 a day.

Water and sewer connections: a 3/4-inch water tap costs $2,200, a 1-inch tap $2,400 and a 4-inch sewer tap $1,700; larger taps are quoted by Public Works.

Fire inspections: the Fire Department’s mandated routine inspections and the first re-inspection are free; the second re-inspection costs $50 and each one after that $100.

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 OSFM current codes
• Reidsville Building Inspections & Permitting
• Reidsville permit portal and inspection scheduling
• Reidsville online permit portal (iWorQ)
• Reidsville FY 2026-2027 fee schedule
• Reidsville Owner Exemption Affidavit
• Reidsville Contractor Information Form
• Reidsville Workers’ Compensation Coverage Affidavit
• Reidsville temporary electrical power agreement
• Reidsville: when do you need a permit?
• Reidsville FY 2026-2027 fee schedule (PDF)

Reidsville permit FAQ

Who issues building permits in Reidsville?

The City of Reidsville Department of Planning & Community Development issues building, trade, zoning and sign permits for property inside city limits.

How do I apply for a permit in Reidsville?

Online, through the City’s iWorQ Citizen Portal, which has separate applications for zoning, residential building, non-residential building, trade, sign and mobile food vendor permits.

Do I need a zoning permit before a building permit?

For new construction, additions and accessory buildings, yes. The zoning application needs a site plan with setback dimensions and, for new construction, the parcel number.

Can a homeowner pull a permit in Reidsville?

Yes, with a notarised Owner Exemption Affidavit. You must supervise the work, attend every inspection and live in the building for 12 months after completion.

Do I need a permit for a pool or solar panels?

Yes. Above-ground and in-ground pools and solar panels are listed project types on both the residential and non-residential building applications.

How are inspections scheduled?

Call the City inspections office at 336-349-1065. Inspections run Monday through Friday, in the morning or afternoon, based on inspector availability.

How much is a building permit in Reidsville?

A $60 base fee plus $8 per $1,000 of project cost up to $50,000, $7 per $1,000 for the next $50,000 and $3 per $1,000 above $100,000. A $50,000 project pays $460 before trade permits.

What does a failed inspection cost?

After the initial inspection and one follow-up, re-inspections cost $40, then $75, then $100 each, paid before the inspector returns.

Simplify Reidsville 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 Reidsville permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.