Frequently Asked Questions

Q. When are building permits required?
A. Building permits are required for the following residential construction:

Single Family Dwellings (Site built homes)
Modulars (On frame/Off frame) & Manufactured Homes
Additions (Attached garages, porches, utility rooms, decks, carports, etc)
Detached Accessory Structures (Garages, carports, sheds, gazebos, above/in-ground pools, hot tubs, wooden pool/hot tub decking, etc)
Bulkheads, piers, platforms, & beach access ways
Chimney/Woodstove
Roofing (Not required for shingle/covering replacement only)
Improvements/Alterations in excess of $5,000 and/or any work classified as structural or load bearing
Any work involving electrical, plumbing, mechanical, insulation or gas piping work
Demolition permits are required to take down/demolish structures
Moving permits are required to relocate structures on the same property, or to move structures from one parcel to another

Building permits are also required for all commercial projects, including new construction, additions, alterations, accessory structures, signs, change of occupancy, etc. Please contact the Building Permit offices listed below for information and/or requirements pertaining to these projects.

Mainland: 153 Courthouse Road, Currituck, NC 27929 (252-232-3378) or
Satellite Office/Corolla: 1123 Ocean Trail, Corolla, NC 27927 (252-453-8555, ext. 230)
Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Building permits are not required for the following; however, zoning permits and/or zoning requirements may apply: Residential storage and accessory buildings, 144 square foot or less, with no dimension greater than twelve (12) feet, including height, and that may not be used as living space (per section 1803 of the Unified Development Ordinance); fences, concrete patios or walkways. CAMA permits may also apply, if the proposed project is located on or near the ocean, sound, river, canal, or other navigable waterways. Contact the Planning Department and/or the Local CAMA officer for information and requirements for these types of permits.

For information on burning permits, please contact the Fire Marshal’s office at (252) 232-6641.

Q. What do I have to submit to apply for a residential building permit?
A. This will vary, depending on the type of permit being applied for. The items required for submittal may include, but are not be limited to, the following:

Site Plan, drawn as true to scale as possible, or Professional survey (Per Section 1202 of the Unified Development Ordinance, lots 20,000 square feet or smaller shall require a professional survey/site plan, excluding the placement of mobile homes in mobile home parks and accessory structures.) Please refer to this section of the Ordinance for site plan requirements or contact the Planning Department at (252-232-3378 Ext. 260, 245, or 264)
Topographic Plan
Septic Permit, Lot Evaluation, Written authorization from the Environmental Health Department (252-232-6603) or signed Water/Sewer Reservation form from utility
Engineered, sealed building plans or construction drawings (2 complete sets)
Original, signed general contractor affidavit or owner affidavit, and trade affidavits, if applicable
CAMA permit, if applicable

Please refer to the submittal requirements listed in the permit application package.

Q. What do I have to submit to apply for a commercial building permit?
A. This will vary, depending on the type of permit being applied for. The items required for submittal may include, but may not be limited to, the following:

Survey (Pre-approved by the Planning Dept. through Technical Review process)
Topographic Plan
Lot Evaluation, Construction Improvements Permit, Written authorization from the Environmental Health Department (252-232-6603) or signed Water/Sewer Reservation form from utility
Engineered, sealed plans (Required number of complete sets, including Appendix “B” completed by engineer)
Original, signed general contractor affidavit
CAMA permit, if applicable
Health Department approval if restaurant, spa, commercial pool, or food sales
Evidence that the Fire Marshal has been notified (provide copy of correspondence)

Please refer to the submittal requirements listed in the permit application package.

Q. How much does a building permit cost?
A. This will vary, depending on the type of permit being applied for. Some permits are priced based on square footage while others are based on a fee schedule. Trade permits are a flat rate. See the Inspection’s fee schedule for all residential and commercial permit pricing. Click here for the fee schedule. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document. Get Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Q. How long are building permits good for?
A. Building permits expire within six (6) months from the date the permit is issued, unless construction has begun. Work must continue until project is complete; if work stops for a period of 12 months, the building permit will expire. If the building permit expires, all work must cease until new building permits have been applied for and issued.

Q. Where would I go to apply for a building permit?
A. Applications for building permits can be submitted in person at either of the building permit offices listed below or by mail. You must submit the completed permit application, along with all required documentation and any applicable permit or review fees. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Please allow approximately 3-5 working days for processing of residential permit applications and approximately 3-4 weeks for processing of commercial applications. This is subject to change, depending upon the completeness of the application package and volume of permits received.

Q. What Building Code does Currituck County enforce?
A. Currituck County enforces the North Carolina State Building Code, which is the 2002 International Building Code with North Carolina Amendments. For further information, contact the Building Inspector’s office or the Department of Insurance at (919) 661-5880. The state building codes are also available online at www.ncdoi.com. Due to Currituck County’s location in a 120 mph wind zone, the requirements of Chapter 44 of the NC Residential Code for 1 & 2 Family Dwellings will apply.

Q. Are there special requirements for windows/doors in Currituck County?
A. Yes. All windows, exterior doors, and overhead garage doors must meet a minimum design pressure or DP rating. Design Pressure (DP) ratings are determined by the mean roof height of the structure. Information on minimum design pressure ratings is located in Chapter 44, Table 4002 (A) and 4002(B) of the NC State Building Code (2002 International Building Code with North Carolina Amendments).

Q. What type of inspections will be required for my building permit?
A. This will vary, depending on the type of permit being applied for. For this information, please refer to the Inspection Procedure Handout which is available at the building permit offices on the mainland and Corolla.

Inspections must be scheduled one working day in advance, by 4:00 pm. This can be done in person at either of the building permit offices listed below or by calling and leaving the required information on the inspection scheduling mailbox.

Q. Do I have to be present for the inspections?
A. While it is not required that someone be present at the inspections, it is always better to have someone on the jobsite, to whom the Building Inspector can explain the inspection report. The inspector must have access to all areas that must be inspected.

To find out approximately what time your inspection will occur, you may contact the building permit offices after 8:30 am, for a two (2) hour window of time that the inspector will be at the jobsite. Please note this time is only an approximate time, given as a courtesy, and is subject to change.