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Buncombe County

Buncombe County Planning and Development

In short

Buncombe County Planning and Development issues 5 permits we publish for Buncombe County, last verified 2026-10-21. Each carries the fee as the agency publishes it, with a link to the schedule it was read from.

What this agency issues

Permits required, with issuing agency, fee, renewal term and the date each record was last verified against its source
Certificate of Zoning Compliance / Site Plan Review (zoning permit)Buncombe County Planning and DevelopmentSite Plan Review (SPR), all new structures, existing structure footprint changes and site work projects, $25.00 flat; Zoning 'By Right' Commercial/Office Sign, Addition, or Accessory/Structure: $125.00 (less than 10,000 sq ft), $300.00 (10,000 to less than 50,000 sq ft), $450.00 (50,000 to 100,000 sq ft), $600.00 (more than 100,000 sq ft); Zoning Determination Letter $35.00; Steep Slope/High Elevation, Protected Ridge, Blue Ridge Parkway Overlay $50.00 in addition to applicable fees; work or use without a permit 'Double Regular Permit Fee' (Buncombe County FY27 Fee Schedule).one-time, per project2026-10-21
Home Occupation / Change of Use Permitonly if it applies to youBuncombe County Planning and Development$125 flat fee (Buncombe County FY27 Fee Schedule, 'Change of Use Fee')one-time, per home occupation or change of use2026-10-21
Off-Premise or Illuminated Sign Permitonly if it applies to youBuncombe County Planning and Development$100 flat fee (Buncombe County FY27 Fee Schedule, Planning & Development, 'Off-Premise or Illuminated Sign Permit')one-time, per sign2026-10-21
Special Use Permit or Variance (commercial, Board of Adjustment)only if it applies to youBuncombe County Planning and DevelopmentSpecial Use Permit - Commercial/Office/Industrial: $500.00 (structures less than 10,000 sq ft), $1,000.00 (10,000 to less than 50,000 sq ft), $1,500.00 (50,000 to 100,000 sq ft), $2,000.00 (more than 100,000 sq ft); development of more than 25 acres adds $200.00 per each additional 25 acres, maximum fee per owner $2,000.00. Variance $350.00 flat, plus $25.00 per additional lot (Buncombe County FY27 Fee Schedule).one-time, per case2026-10-21
Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permitonly if it applies to youBuncombe County Planning and DevelopmentAll properties, one acre or greater disturbance: $525.00 per acre, prorated; lot in a subdivision subject to Sec. 70-68 (Hillside Subdivisions), 0.25 to less than 1 acre: $100.00. All fees are double the base fee if land disturbing activities are commenced before obtaining a permit (Buncombe County FY27 Fee Schedule).per project2026-10-21

Fees shown as a range or formula are set that way by the issuing agency — we do not average them into a single number.

About each permit

Certificate of Zoning Compliance / Site Plan Review (zoning permit)

Buncombe County Code Sec. 78-598(a) provides that no building or other structure 'shall be erected, moved, added to or structurally altered, nor shall any building permit be issued, nor shall any change in the use of any building or land be made until a certificate of zoning compliance shall have been issued by the zoning administrator.' Under Sec. 78-579 the zoning article applies to 'the portion of Buncombe County specifically identified and delineated on the zoning map'. The county Zoning page states that 'A Zoning Permit is required in order to obtain a Building Permit for any piece of land that has a zoning district', that applicants 'submit an application for a Site Plan Review (SPR)' on the Permits Portal, and that 'A zoning inspection is required prior to receiving a Certificate of Occupancy or temporary CO.' The FY27 Fee Schedule charges $25.00 for Site Plan Review of 'All New Structures, Existing Structure Footprint Changes, and Site Work Projects'; a by-right zoning fee for a commercial or office sign, addition or accessory structure of $125.00 under 10,000 sq ft, $300.00 from 10,000 to under 50,000, $450.00 from 50,000 to 100,000 and $600.00 over 100,000; $35.00 for a Zoning Determination Letter; and $50.00 more inside the Steep Slope/High Elevation, Protected Ridge or Blue Ridge Parkway overlays. The schedule states: 'All fees shall be double the base fee if land uses, construction, &/or land disturbing activities are commenced before obtaining a permit.' The figure is from the Buncombe County Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027, adopted June 2, 2026 under Section 8 of the county's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance and in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Home Occupation / Change of Use Permit

The FY27 Fee Schedule charges a $125.00 flat Change of Use Fee covering 'Home Occupations, Change of Uses Within Existing Structures, Establishment or Expansion of Land Uses Where Primary Uses of Land Are Outdoors (Excluding Junkyards)'. A business run from a home in zoned Buncombe County, or one moving into an existing building whose use changes, pays this fee to Planning and Development. The county's Home Occupation Permit form verifies 'that a Home Occupation meets the requirements of the Zoning Ordinance'; its minimum requirements include that the occupation be conducted entirely within a dwelling or accessory structure by the occupants, that it 'not occupy more than 25% of the total floor space of the dwelling, or the entire accessory structure', that there be no visible evidence of the business 'other than an unlighted sign located on the premises and not over two square feet in area', and that 'No more than two persons not in residence on the property shall be employed in connection with the home occupation.' The figure is from the Buncombe County Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027, adopted June 2, 2026 under Section 8 of the county's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance and in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Off-Premise or Illuminated Sign Permit

The FY27 Fee Schedule lists a Planning and Development 'Sign Permit' line named 'Off-Premise or Illuminated Sign Permit' at a $100.00 flat fee. The line applies to off-premise signs and to illuminated signs, such as a lit storefront sign for a shop, restaurant or salon; it is not a fee for every sign. The same schedule separately lists a by-right zoning fee for a 'Commercial/Office Sign, Addition, or Accessory/Structure' starting at $125.00 for under 10,000 sq ft, recorded under the zoning permit record, and the Permits and Inspections fee sheet prices sign construction under its commercial permit tables. For a sign that is neither off-premise nor illuminated, contact Planning and Development at 828-250-4830 for the schedule line that applies. The Zoning page lists a Commercial Permit Lighting Plan Checklist among its documents. The figure is from the Buncombe County Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027, adopted June 2, 2026 under Section 8 of the county's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance and in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Special Use Permit or Variance (commercial, Board of Adjustment)

The county Zoning page states that 'A Special Use Permit is required for some uses as outlined in the Permitted Use Table of the Zoning Ordinance', that a variance is needed 'to obtain an exception from an ordinance requirement, such as minimum lot sizes, height limits, setback requirements, or parking standards', that a pre-application conference with Planning staff is required, and that 'Applications for a Variance or Special Use Permit require a public hearing before the Board of Adjustment.' Whether a particular business needs a special use permit depends on its use and zoning district in the Permitted Use Table. The FY27 Fee Schedule charges a commercial, office or industrial Special Use Permit at $500.00 for structures under 10,000 sq ft, $1,000.00 for 10,000 to under 50,000, $1,500.00 for 50,000 to 100,000 and $2,000.00 over 100,000, with $200.00 for each additional 25 acres over 25 acres and a stated '*Maximum Fee Per Owner is $2000.00'. A variance is $350.00, plus $25.00 per additional lot. The Zoning page notes submittal deadlines roughly two months before a meeting date. The figure is from the Buncombe County Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027, adopted June 2, 2026 under Section 8 of the county's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance and in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Erosion and Sedimentation Control Permit

A contractor grading a commercial site in Buncombe County needs an erosion and sedimentation control permit from Planning and Development when the disturbance reaches the county's thresholds. The Erosion Control page states that the division 'is a delegated authority by the State of North Carolina, and enforces the Sedimentation Pollution Control Act of 1973 in all areas of Buncombe County, excluding the City of Asheville and where public monies are involved (i.e. DOT, Schools)', that 'an Erosion Control permit is required for land-disturbing activities of one acre or more', and that properties in a 'Hillside Subdivision' need a permit 'for ¼ acre or more of disturbance'. The FY27 Fee Schedule charges $525.00 per acre, prorated, for one acre or greater disturbance, and $100.00 for a hillside subdivision lot (Sec. 70-68) of 0.25 to less than 1 acre. The schedule's general rule states: 'All fees shall be double the base fee if land uses, construction, &/or land disturbing activities are commenced before obtaining a permit.' The page adds that all land-disturbing activities must use protective measures such as silt fencing. Erosion Control Officer: 828-250-4848. The figure is from the Buncombe County Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027, adopted June 2, 2026 under Section 8 of the county's Fiscal Year 2026-2027 Budget Ordinance and in effect July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027.

Contact

Jurisdiction
Buncombe County
Phone
828-250-4830

Contact details are taken from the agency’s own site or its published fee schedule. Where we have not verified a phone number we leave it blank rather than guess.

Sources

Every fee and term above was read from one of these government pages on the date shown.

  1. Buncombe County Budget Ordinance, Fiscal Year 2026 – 2027 (adopted June 2, 2026)Buncombe County Board of Commissioners · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  2. Buncombe County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 78, Article VI — Buncombe County Zoning OrdinanceBuncombe County, North Carolina (Municode Library) · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  3. Buncombe County Fee Schedule, Fiscal Year 2027 (July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027)Buncombe County, North Carolina · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  4. Erosion ControlBuncombe County Planning and Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  5. Home Occupation PermitBuncombe County Planning and Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21
  6. ZoningBuncombe County Planning and Development · primary source · retrieved 2026-10-21

Other offices serving Buncombe County

The full permit list for this jurisdiction

Industry permit lists that include this agency

North Carolina jurisdictions

Commercial Compliance Hub publishes information, not legal advice. Requirements change — confirm anything you rely on with the issuing agency before you file.