The Madison County Inspection Department is in place to provide code enforcement for the safety and well-being of the people in Madison County.

This agency enforces the North Carolina Building Code which was adopted by the North Carolina Building Code Council.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is a Permit Required?
A permit is required for all new building construction, alteration, or renovation. General repairs are excluding unless you are adding, changing, or altering what already exists. For a single dwelling only one permit is issued and it will cover all trades. For anything else separate permits are issued for each trade (building, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical). A permit is not required if the work cost less than five thousand dollars unless you are adding, changing or altering the existing systems or any load bearing structure.

What do I need to obtain a permit?
You will need a copy of your septic tank layout, or a letter from the town stating you will be on city sewer and water. A pin number for the property is required along with a set of plans that detail work to be done. You will need to bring a list of contractors with you of who will be doing the work. For modulars a setup bond is required.

When does a permit expire?
Once you obtain a permit you will have 6 months (180 days) to commence work and have an inspection done. Once your first inspection is done you will have up to 1 year (365 days) to obtain your next inspection.

What Code do you follow?
We follow the North Carolina Building Code.

Where can I get a copy of the codes?
You can order the code books online by clicking here or call (919) 661-5880.