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.

• All new construction requires a building permit.
• Any remodeling job over $15,000 in costs, affecting load-bearing walls or increasing the dimensional footprint also requires a permit.
• Any plumbing, electrical or mechanical work requires a building permit regardless of the cost of the job.
• Replacement of shingles on a roof does not require a building permit unless the plywood underneath the shingles is also being replaced.
• Fences do not require a building permit unless they exceed 6 feet in height.
• Storage buildings do not require a building permit unless the dimensions exceed 12 feet by 12 feet, in which case a permit must be obtained.    

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.

• A blue-line survey of the subject property prepared by a registered North Carolina land surveyor. The survey must depict the natural ground elevation, flood zone and parcel identification number (PIN).
  
  
• Water tap authorization and a receipt for hookup fees are required if the site is served by central water. To obtain a water tap, please contact the Dare County Water Department. Lots that are not served by central water must install a private well.
  
  
• A septic permit issued by the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services.
  • For construction in Martin's Point, Colington or Hatteras Island, septic permits are issued at the Dare County Satellite Office, which is located at 2514 S. Croatan Highway in Nags Head.
  • For construction on Roanoke Island, Manteo and the Dare County mainland, septic permits may be obtained at the health department office located at the Dare County Administration Building, 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive, in Manteo.
    
    
• Floor plans must be reviewed and approved by the Dare County Department of Health & Human Services.
  
  
• Three complete sets of the building plans of the proposed structure are required. One set of plans will be kept by the inspector, one set will remain at job site, and the third set will be retained by the contractor.
  
  
• If the project is located on the oceanfront, the sound or a canal, it may require a Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA) permit. CAMA permit applications may be obtained at any Dare County Planning Office located within the Dare County Administration Building at 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive or by calling 252-475-5849. For additional information on CAMA permits please see the CAMA section of this website.
  
  
• Each respective contractor and subcontractor must possess a valid license issued by the State of North Carolina to perform his or her particular task(s).

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.