Standard Review - Residential Building Plans - FAQ
Single Family and Duplex
Q. When does a project require a plan review and/or permits?
A. According to the State Administrative Code, no person may commence or proceed with:
- The construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building;
- The installation, extension, or general repair of any plumbing system;
- The installation, extension, alteration or general repair of any heating or cooling equipment system; or
- The installation, extension, alteration or general repair of any electrical wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment...
without first securing from the Inspections Department with jurisdiction over the site of the work each permit required by the North Carolina State Building Codes and other State or local law or local ordinance or regulation applicable to the work. (General Statute 153A-357 and 160A-417). For more details, reference the specific technical code for each trade as provided by the Department of Insurance. If you are still unsure if your project warrants a review and permitting, contact Leon Skinner at (919) 516-2191 for assistance.
Q. When do my building plans have to be sealed by a Registered Design Professional?
A. Where the General Statutes require, no permit shall be issued unless the construction documents (drawings & specifications), bear the North Carolina seal of a registered design professional. Construction documents shall include the name and address of the business entity (individual, corporation, or partnership) with whom the registered design professional is affiliated. For permitting purposes, the seal of a registered design professional is not required when the building, structure or project involved is in one of the categories listed below, unless otherwise required pursuant to the provisions of the General Statutes or the technical codes.
- A family residence, up to eight (8) units attached with grade level exit which is not part of or physically connected with any other buildings or residential units;
- A building upon any farm for the use of any farmer, unless the building is of such nature and intended for such use as to substantially involve the health or safety of the public;
- An institutional or commercial building, if it does not have a total value exceeding ninety thousand dollars ($90,000);
- An institutional or commercial building, if the total building area does not exceed 2,500 square feet in gross floor area;
- Alterations, remodeling or renovation of an existing building that is exempt under this section, or alteration, remodeling, or renovation of an existing building or building site that does not alter or affect the structural system of the building; change the building’s access or exit pattern; or change the live or dead load on the building’s structural system.
- The preparation and use of details and shop drawings, assembly or reaction drawings, or graphic descriptions utilized to detail or illustrate a portion of the work required to construct the project in accordance with the plans and specifications prepared or to be prepared under the requirement or exemptions;
- Nothing shall prevent any individual from making plans or data for buildings for himself. Reference North Carolina Administration and Enforcement Requirement Code-2002 Edition 302.2 & 302.4
Q. Validity of permit (When may I start to work and how long is my permit valid for?)
A. In accordance with General Statutes 153A-358 for counties and 160A-418 for cities, a permit expires six (6) months, or any lesser time fixed by local ordinances, after the date of issuance, if the work authorized by the permit has not been commenced. If, after commencement, the work is discontinued for a period of twelve (12) months, the permit immediately expires. No work authorized by a permit that has expired may be performed until a new permit has been secured. Reference North Carolina Administration and Enforcement Requirement Code-2002 Edition 301.2
Q. Are there fees associated with obtaining a permit for a new Single Family dwelling?
A. Yes. A permit shall not be issued until the fees prescribed have been paid. Please refer to our Fee Schedule. The fees associated with a new Single Family Dwelling are collected at the time of permit issuance.
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