Charlotte Building Permits

Charlotte building permits are managed by Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement after a City zoning review. This guide covers the dual-agency process for Charlotte homeowners.

🏛 Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement 📅 Updated April 2026

Charlotte Permitting Note: Charlotte uses the City for zoning review (LDIRL) and the County for building inspections; all structural work over $15,000 requires both approvals.

About Building Permits in Charlotte

Building permits in Charlotte are issued by the Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement. Most residential permit applications are submitted online through the Accela Citizens Access portal at aca-prod.accela.com/Mecklenburg. Processing times for standard residential projects typically run 5–10 business days for County building review; City LDIRL adds 5 additional days.

2018 North Carolina Residential Code. Charlotte uses a dual-agency system — the City handles zoning (LDIRL) and the County handles building inspections.

All inspections are scheduled through the Mecklenburg County Accela portal.

Project Types in Charlotte