Inspections

1. All new construction requires a building permit.

• Single Family Dwellings

• Manufactured Homes (Mobile homes or Modulars)

• Additions

• Accessory Structures (Garages, carports, sheds, porches, decks, pools, hot tubs, piers, platforms)

• Bulkheads

• Chimney/Woodstove

• Any type of work in a FEMA Special Flood Hazard Area (If you are located in a flood zone, please contact us before starting any project.)

2. Any remodeling job over $15,000 in costs, affecting load-bearing walls or increasing the dimensional footprint requires a permit.

3. Any plumbing, electrical or mechanical work requires a permit regardless of the cost of the job.

4. Replacement of shingles on a roof does not require a building permit unless the plywood underneath the shingles is also being replaced.

Items That Do Not Require a Permit

1. Fences do not require a permit. However, they should not be placed in a drainage easement and may not exceed 6 feet in height.

2. Driveways

3. Storage sheds 12 x 12 (144 square feet) or smaller.

Further questions about whether building permits may be needed for your project should be directed to the Pasquotank County Planning Department staff and they will be happy to assist you.

‍PAPERWORK REQUIRED BEFORE A BUILDING PERMIT IS ISSUED:

• Completed Permit Application

• Address assigned by the County GIS Department  

‍ ‍• Site Plan - Site plans should be generally drawn to scale but does not need to be drawn by a surveyor or engineer and should include the following items: ALL PROPERTY LINE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS; ALL EXISTING PHYSICAL FEATURES (STRUCTURES, BUILDINGS, STREETS, ROADS, ETC.); DRIVEWAY LOCATION, AND LOCATION AND DIMENSIONS OF PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION.

‍ ‍• Building Plans - NOTE: For all metal/structural steel accessory buildings, engineered plans that are stamped and signed by a NC Engineer are required.

‍ • ‍‍ Environmental Health Dept Septic Tank Approval - New Construction. (252-338-4490 / 709 Roanoke Ave., Elizabeth City, NC 27909)

‍ ‍• Appendix H - This document is required when placing sheds, pools, decks, car ports, garages, and other additions on the property that will not affect the septic tank system.

‍ ‍• CAMA Permit - If building over the water or within 75 feet of water. (252-264-3901 / 401 S. Griffin St., Suite 300, Elizabeth City, NC 27909)

‍ ‍• New Lien Agent - Required for any projects that cost $40,000 or more and subcontractors are being used.   (www.liencsnc.com)

‍ ‍• Owner Exemption Affidavit - This notarized form is required if the project costs $40,000 or more and the Homeowner is acting as their own General Contractor.

‍ ‍• Elevation Certificate - This form is necessary when property is in the AE Flood Zone. It is required for every new structure that goes on the property unless it is an open-air structure that water can flow through.

‍ ‍• NCDOT Driveway Permit – If the property is on a state-maintained road, please contact the NC DOT office at 252-621-6400 to determine if a Driveway Permit will be required.

The following is an outline of the different types of inspections the County provides and a schedule of when they are to be performed throughout the construction process as required by the North Carolina State Building Code. "This is not intended to be a complete list of items to be checked nor does it certify proper operation of equipment or systems." Depending on the size or complexity of your project, you may not need as many or possibly more inspections that are listed below.

1. Footing Inspection

To be made after the trenches are excavated, all grade stakes are installed, all reinforcing steel and supports are in place and appropriately tied, all necessary forms are in place and braced and before any concrete is placed.

2. Under Slab Inspection for Habitable Spaces

To be made after all forms have been placed, all electrical, plumbing and/or heating and air conditioning facilities, all crushed stone, a vapor retarder, insulation, all reinforcing steel with supports and tied and/or all welded wire fabric is installed, when required, and before any concrete is placed.

3. Foundation Inspection

To be made after all foundation supports are installed. This inspection is to check foundation supports, crawl space leveling, ground clearances, and positive drainage, where required.

4. Rough-In and Framing Inspection

To be made on parts of the electrical, plumbing, heating/ventilation, or cooling system that will be hidden from view in the finished building after all parts of the building framing are in place, but before any wall, ceiling finish, or building insulation is installed.

To be made after the roof wall, ceiling, and floor framing is complete with appropriate blocking, bracing and fire stopping in place. The following items should be in place and visible for inspection:

1. Pipes

2. Chimneys and vents

3. Flashing for roofs, chimneys and wall openings

4. Insulation baffles

5. All lintels required to be bolted to the framing for support shall not be covered by any interior or exterior wall or ceiling finish materials before approval. Work may continue without approval for lintels which are bolted and supported on masonry or concrete.

4.A - Sheathing Inspection (Optional)

This is an optional inspection. This may be used to inspect house wrap, flashings, lintels, window, and door installations to allow exterior wallcovering to be installed in advance of a full framing inspection. It can also be used as an energy inspection, to inspect the encapsulation areas behind tubs, showers, fireplaces and chases that may not be visible at the framing inspection, or other concealed spaces prior to vapor barriers installed. You must request a sheathing inspection with a customer comment note that states "Interior only for energy inspection or framing behind tubs/fireplaces". You may have both exterior and encapsulated areas inspected at the same time. Please add a customer comment "this is for exterior and interior behind tubs/fireplace encapsulation areas".

5. Insulation Inspection

To be made after an approved building framing and trade rough-in inspections. All insulation and vapor retarders must be in place, but before any wall or ceiling covering is applied. Blown-in ceiling insulation may be inspected at the final inspection if all areas are accessible.

6. Power Release Inspection

The permanent power release inspection is made after all rough-in inspections and the insulation inspection has passed.

7. Final Inspection

Each trade must be completed prior to requesting a final inspection for each. Typically the building final inspection is performed last. All final grading, drainage, hand rails, guardrails must be in place. Once all final inspections are complete and any outside agency holds have been satisfied (if any), a Certificate of Occupancy will be issued for the property.