Building Permits & Inspections – Dare County (.gov)
Departments » Planning
Building permits must be obtained from the appropriate inspection office for the geographical location of the construction project. Sub-permits for mechanical, plumbing or electrical work may be obtained at any of the offices regardless of the construction location.
A North Carolina licensed general contractor is required for building construction or repairs that cost $30,000 or more. Exceptions to this requirement can be reviewed at this link: N.C. Licensing Requirements for General Contractors
The following are general guidelines for the issuance of building permits in Dare County. Further questions about whether building permits may be needed for your project should be directed to Dare County Planning Department staff who will be happy to assist you.
Following is an outline of the information that is required for the issuance of a building permit. Further questions about these items should be directed to Dare County Planning Department staff, who will be happy to assist you.
The inspection department shall perform the following inspections (North Carolina Administrative Code Sec. 107):
Footing Inspection: Footing inspections shall be made after the trenches are excavated, all grades stakes are installed, all reinforcing steel and supports are in place and appropriately tied, and all necessary forms are in place and braced before any concrete is placed.
Under Slab Inspection (as appropriate): Under slab inspections, as appropriate, shall be made after all materials and equipment to be concealed by concrete are complete.
Foundation Inspection, Wood Frame Construction: Foundation and crawl space inspections shall be made after all supports are installed. This inspection is to check foundation supports, crawl space leveling, ground clearances,and positive drainage when required. (Piling inspections are considered foundation inspections).
Building Framing Inspection: Framing inspections shall be made after the roof (excluding the permanent roof covering), wall, ceiling and floor framing is complete with appropriate blocking, bracing and fire stopping in place (this also includes the sheathing on the exterior of the building if it provides the structural tie from the foundation to the roof and/or the wall line bracing required in high wind zones, and the roof sheathing that provides structural bracing for roof framing members). The following items shall be in place and visible for inspection:
1. Pipes
2. Chimneys and vents
3. Insulation baffles
4. All lintels that are required to be bolted to framing for support shall not be covered by any exterior wall or ceiling finish material before approval. Work may continue without approval for lintels supported on masonry or concrete.
Rough-In Inspection: Rough-in inspections shall be made when all building framing and parts of the electrical, plumbing, fire protection, or heating/ventilation/cooling system that will be hidden from view in the finished building have been placed and visible for inspection. Shower pans must be installed and inspected at the rough-in phase unless the permit holder requests a special courtesy inspection for shower pan approval at a different stage in the project.
Insulation Inspection: Insulation inspections shall be made after an approved building framing and rough-in inspection and after permanent roof covering is installed, with all insulation and vapor retarders in place, but before any wall covering is applied.
Fire Protection Inspection: Fire protection inspections shall be made in all buildings where any material is used for fire protection purposes. The permit holder or his agent shall notify the inspection department after all fire protection materials are in place. Fire protection materials shall not be concealed until inspected and approved by the code enforcement official.
Final Inspection: A final inspection shall be made for each trade after completion of the work authorized under the technical codes. Permanent power will not be released until after the final inspection is approved. The permit holder may apply for provisional power subject to the requirements of Section 10.8 of the North Carolina Administrative Code.
Applications for commercial and residential building.
Building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical fee schedules.
Search permits and inspections.
Apply for permits and inspections.
The online registration process is for general contractors and subcontractors (mechanical, plumbing, electrical and gas) licensed by the State of North Carolina to register with the Dare County Planning Department for online submission of permit applications, scheduling of inspections and reviewing inspection results.
Any property owner who plans to act as their own contractor should contact Dare County Planning Department staff for additional instructions on how to complete the registration process.
IMPORTANT NOTE FOR NEW REGISTRANTS: Once you register, please fill out the online access application, so the planning office can link your accounts and send you confirmation your online account is activated.
CURRENT USERS – LOGIN CHANGE NOTICE: Please refer to the instructions for account re-registration for registered accounts prior to April 15,2022 who are required to re-register due to the system upgrade.
Cory Tate
Chief Building Inspector
cory.tate@darenc.gov
252.475-5872
Baum Bay, Colington, and Martin’s Point areas
Keil Twiford
Building Inspector
keil.twiford@darenc.gov
252.475.5867
Fax: 252.473-6653
Unincorporated portions of Roanoke Island, including Wanchese and the mainland areas of Dare County encompassing East Lake, Manns Harbor, Mashoes and Stumpy Point
Crew Hayes
Building Inspector
crew.hayes@darenc.gov
252.475.5876
Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo and Avon
Wayland Jennette
Building Inspector
wayland.jennette@darenc.gov
252.475.5877
Buxton, Frisco and Hatteras Village
954 Marshall C. Collins DriveP.O. Box 1000Manteo, NC 27954
252.475.5000