Skip to main content

Buncombe County - Ongoing State of Emergency

Visit buncombeready.org for updates

State of Emergency

Learn how to be prepared

Permits & Inspections

The Buncombe County Permits & Inspections Department exists to protect the life, safety and welfare of its residents by administering and enforcing the North Carolina State Building Codes as adopted by the Building Code Council.


Buncombe County Permits & Inspections provides building inspections and permitting services for all unincorporated areas of Buncombe County and through contractual agreements, provides these services for the towns of Biltmore Forest, Weaverville and Woodfin.

Building inspections and permitting is a cost-recovery program through user fees and not funded as a direct cost from county-accessed property taxes.

NOTICE: Buncombe County does not maintain data concerning hazardous waste sites within the county. For information on hazardous waste sites contact U.S. EPA Region 4 Superfund Division at 1-800-241-1754 or the Division of Waste Management with the N.C. Department of Environmental and Natural Resources at (919) 508-8400.


NOTICE:To help ensure landlords in Buncombe County provide fit premises, the Permits & Inspections Department will perform inspections on rental properties when requested by tenant or owner and provide a checklist for compliance with NCGS § 42-42. Please reference the “Request for Rental Inspection” form to request an inspection.

Frequently Asked Questions

No permit issued under Article 9 or 9C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is required for any construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration performed in accordance with the current edition of the North Carolina State Building Code costing forty thousand dollars ($40,000) or less in any single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building unless the work involves any of the following:

  1. The addition, repair, or replacement of load-bearing structures. However, no permit is required for replacement of windows, doors, exterior siding, or the pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking of porches and exterior decks that otherwise meet the requirements of this subsection.
  2. The addition or change in the design of plumbing. However, no permit is required for replacements otherwise meeting the requirements of this subsection that do not change size or capacity.
  3. The addition, replacement, or change in the design of heating, airconditioning, or electrical wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment, other than like-kind replacement of electrical devices and lighting fixtures.
  4. The use of materials not permitted by the North Carolina State Building Code.
  5. The addition (excluding replacement) of roofing.
  6. Any changes to which the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code applies.

See memo from NCDOI regarding the above

For information about demolition permits contact the Asheville-Buncombe Air Quality Agency at (828) 250-6777.

Permits are obtained by the property owner or owner's agent from the Permits & Inspections Department. The department's operating hours are Monday - Friday, from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. For additional options on applications for electrical, mechanical and plumbing please contact our office.

Permits expire six (6) months after the issue date if no work has commenced. Permits also expire when work has started but discontinued for (12) months from the last inspection date.

Any contracted work which exceeds $40,000 per project (Reference NCGS § 87-1).

N. C. State Building Codes can be purchased through the International Code Council.

Click here to download instructions (PDF).

NOTICE: You can get a permit from the Permits & Inspections Department located at 30 Valley Street, Asheville, NC. The department's operating hours are Monday - Friday from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm. No permit applications can be processed after 4:00 pm.

For permit fees and other information please contact the Permits & Inspections Department.

Locate & Contact

Permits & Inspections Department

Contact

Permits & Inspections
Main Line
P: (828) 250-5360

Permits & Inspections
30 Valley Street
Asheville, NC 28801

Find Parking

Hours of Operation

Monday - Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

No permit applications or permit fees can be processed after 4:00 p.m.

Email Us


Permits & Inspections Staff



Planning Department

NOTE: If property is located in one of the following zoned areas:

Environmental Health