Administrative overview · FIPS 37049
Craven 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
Craven County Planning and Inspections Department / Central Permitting
For a project in or near Craven 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
Central Permitting 252-636-6618; Inspections 252-636-4987
Call before mobilizing if the project has a boundary, occupancy, fire, septic, or utility question.
Permit counter
Central Permitting, 406 Craven Street, New Bern, NC 28560-4971; Inspections, 2828 Neuse Boulevard, New Bern, NC 28562
Operating hours
Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.; permitting technicians are available during business hours.
Review expectation
Permit processing time depends on the nature of the permit and requires Central Permitting, land-use, Environmental Health when applicable, and Building Inspections review. Inspections are normally scheduled for the next business day, or rarely the second day during high volume.
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 Craven County
Who handles permitting for this jurisdiction?
Craven County Planning and Inspections Department / Central Permitting 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?
No verified online portal was located in the reviewed public materials. Contact Central Permitting 252-636-6618; Inspections 252-636-4987 and request the current application route before preparing a final submittal.
How long might review take?
Permit processing time depends on the nature of the permit and requires Central Permitting, land-use, Environmental Health when applicable, and Building Inspections review. Inspections are normally scheduled for the next business day, or rarely the second day during high volume.
How are inspections scheduled?
After purchasing the permit, call the Inspections Department during business hours with the correct permit number to request an inspection. Craven County normally schedules inspections for the next business day; unusually high demand may move the inspection to the second day. The County cannot promise an exact time, and inspection questions can be directed to 252-636-4987.
Which codes and exemptions should I review?
Craven County Inspections reviews residential and commercial projects and enforces the North Carolina State Building Codes. The County's permit application requires building, insulation, mechanical, gas-line, plumbing, and electrical information as applicable. Current 2026 research indicates the 2018 North Carolina State Building Code remains in effect while implementation of the 2024 Code is delayed by state certification and publication requirements. N/A for a consolidated minor/cosmetic building-work list. County forms identify an owner exemption under N.C.G.S. 87-14(a)(1) and an existing-wastewater-system exemption under N.C.G.S. 160D-1110(h1), but the County FAQ states that permits are required for covered erection, construction, enlargement, installation, alteration, repair, movement, removal, conversion, or demolition of a building, structure, or service system.