Administrative overview · FIPS 37019
Brunswick County permit authority
The first compliance decision is jurisdictional: identify the office with statutory authority over your parcel, then use its filing and inspection sequence to keep the project moving.
Jurisdictional status
County
This county profile is the primary starting point for unincorporated-area permitting.
Responsible agency
Brunswick County Code Administration (Building Inspections, Central Permitting, and Fire Marshal)
For a project in or near Brunswick County, this office is the identified point of contact for permit intake, statutory code enforcement, plan review coordination, and inspection release conditions. Confirm the parcel’s boundary and project type before relying on the county lane.
Direct contact
910-253-2021, option 2 for building permit questions
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
75 Courthouse Drive, Building I, Bolivia, NC 28422
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m.
Review expectation
N/A; the County does not publish a standard plan-review turnaround time.
Compliance workbench
Choose the next project decision.
Apply online
Open the verified digital gateway, application form, and review timeline.
Open guide →Fees & penalties
Understand fee schedules, enforcement exposure, and stop-work liabilities.
Open guide →Codes & exemptions
Read the code framework, minor-work exemptions, and inspection lane.
Open guide →Agency website
Visit the primary public source for current notices and contact changes.
Open guide →Source trail
Official sources for this profile
Use these direct agency or licensing links to confirm current instructions before you file, pay, or schedule work. External pages control if their information differs from this directory.
Project questions
Frequently asked questions for Brunswick County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Brunswick County Code Administration (Building Inspections, Central Permitting, and Fire Marshal) is the identified county-level authority for this profile. Confirm that the property is in its service area before filing.
How should I begin an application?
Begin with the online permit gateway listed in the application guide. If the portal does not recognize the address or project type, contact 910-253-2021, option 2 for building permit questions.
How long might review take?
N/A; the County does not publish a standard plan-review turnaround time.
How are inspections scheduled?
All inspections are scheduled through the Brunswick County Permit Portal. After approval, the applicant receives account setup information by email. The County residential guide describes footing, under-slab, foundation, rough-in, framing, insulation, floodplain, and final inspections; the final building inspection is generally last and a Certificate of Occupancy follows approval. Failed inspections incur a $75 reinspection fee after the second failure for the same inspection.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Brunswick County Code Administration oversees building and fire permitting and inspections under the North Carolina State Building Code and applicable County regulations. The current fee page links the County’s 2025 ICC Matrix, while current 2026 research indicates North Carolina’s 2018 State Building Code remains in effect pending delayed implementation of the 2024 Code. The County UDO governs development outside another governmental unit’s equal planning jurisdiction. A building permit is generally not required for nonstructural work costing less than $40,000 in a single-family residence, farm buildings outside the applicable jurisdiction, residential accessory structures with no dimension over 12 feet, residential replacement of windows, doors, or exterior siding, and replacement of pickets, railings, stair treads, or decking on residential porches and exterior decks. Minor plumbing-fixture repairs that do not disrupt supply, waste, or ventilation are exempt; certain same-voltage electrical fixture replacements and qualifying water-heater replacements are also exempt under the County’s stated conditions.