Inspections Department Requirements

For the safety of our citizens, the North Carolina General Assembly requires local governments to create an inspections department to perform the duties and responsibilities outlined in NC § 160A-412. These duties include enforcement of state and local laws relating to the construction and maintenance of buildings and other structures, and the installation of plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, fire alarms, and sprinklers.

For uniformity, the NC State Building Code is adopted and amended by the NC Building Code Council for implementation across the state.

The purpose of this code is to establish minimum requirements to safeguard public health, safety, and welfare. Per section 8-52 of the Town of Cary Code of Ordinances, the Town has adopted the North Carolina State Building Code. The only building regulations enforced by the Town are those found in the state-adopted Building Code in force at the time of permit for construction.

Codes currently used in the State of North Carolina (NC Dept of Insurance)

Code Updates (2025): 

On March 19, 2025, North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed into law the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025 – Part 1.  The bill includes many items intended to assist western North Carolina residents and businesses in the continued recovery from the devastation of Hurricane Helene. One of the items addresses the effective date of the 2024 North Carolina State Building Code. The code was originally set to become effective on January 1, 2025; however, General Assembly Session Law 2024-57, enacted December 11, 2024, then delayed the effective date of the 2024 North Carolina State Building Code until July 1, 2025. The Governor’s signature of the Disaster Recovery act has now delayed the effective date of the new codes for at least one year, meaning that the 2024 codes will not become effective until some time after April 1, 2026. 

** If you wish to submit your plans under the 2024 codes as an alternate method, please make sure your plan set clearly reflects that choice.

Until the 2024 codes are adopted, the following codes remain in effect in North Carolina: 

Effective Nov. 1, 2021

• 2017 National Electrical Code (one- and two-family dwellings) 
• 2020 National Electrical Code (Commercial, Industrial, and Multi-family projects)
• 2023 National Electrical Code (optional as an alternative method).  The plan set shall clearly identify that it is being submitted under the 2023 NEC.

Effective Jan. 1, 2019

• 2018 North Carolina Existing Building Code
• 2018 North Carolina Residential Code
• 2018 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code
• 2018 North Carolina Administrative Code
• 2018 North Carolina Building Code
• 2009 ICC ANSI A117.1, Accessible and Usable Buildings
• 2018 North Carolina Plumbing Code
• 2018 North Carolina Mechanical Code
• 2018 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code
• 2018 North Carolina Fire Prevention Code
• 2024 Codes may be used as an alternative method.  The plan set shall clearly identify that it is being submitted under the 2024 NC Building Codes.

Resources

For free access to NC Codes, visit the ICC website.  Hard copies and downloadable pdfs are available for purchase from the ICC.

For more information about N.C. State Building Codes, the Building Code Council, Code Interpretations and Temporary Rules, visit the NC Department of Insurance - Office of the State Fire Marshall site.

Important Building Code Legislation (2015 - 2023)

• Water and Sewer Related Changes, or House Bill 538, became law in North Carolina, effective Aug. 11, 2015. This bill requires municipal wastewater systems to accept the collection of liquid condensate.
• NC State Code Amendments (updated regularly between code cycles)
• House Bill 252, effective Dec. 1, 2017.  Code Decision Review Procedure.
• HB 488, effective Aug. 16, 2023.  Several notable changes including the increase in cost limitation for certain permit exemptions and direction for the establishment of a Residential Code Council.
• HB 677, effective Oct. 21, 2023.  Provisions for at-risk permits.