Bolthole Index

Guilford County, North Carolina

Building permits, zoning and septic rules in High Point, North Carolina

High Point, North Carolina requires building permits before construction, repair or alteration of residential or commercial structures, subject to project-specific exceptions.1 High Point administers its own zoning through the Development Ordinance.2 For a High Point parcel in Guilford County using septic, start with Guilford County Environmental Health for site evaluation and septic approvals.3

At a glance

Building permits
Required before covered construction, repair or alteration; apply through the city14
Zoning
City Development Ordinance applies inside High Point city limits2
Septic approvals
Guilford County Environmental Health evaluates sites and handles septic approvals for Guilford County parcels3
Tiny homes
Permanent dwellings must meet state building requirements and local zoning and setbacks5
Owner-builder
Conditional state licensing exemption; building permits still apply61
Private wells
Local health department construction permit and Certificate of Completion required7

Who to call

Building permits

High Point Inspections Services

City building plan review and inspections

336-883-3151

211 South Hamilton St. Room 316 High Point, NC 27260

Online permits →

Zoning

High Point Planning & Development

City planning and zoning questions; property information through thePOINT

336-883-3328

211 South Hamilton St. Room 316 High Point, NC 27260

Septic permits

Guilford County Environmental Health, On-Site Wastewater Program

Septic site evaluations, approvals and inspections for Guilford County parcels

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 11, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in High Point means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Do you need a building permit in High Point, NC?

High Point requires a building or construction permit before covered construction, repair or alteration of a residential or commercial structure; confirm project-specific exceptions with the city before starting work.1 High Point also requires a zoning permit for land-development activities not covered by the State Building Code.1 Applications go to the city Development Services Center through Accela Citizen Access, with the record type chosen for the proposed work.4 High Point Inspections Services provides city plan review and inspection services; call 336-883-3151 for help identifying the building approval your project needs.8

Does High Point have zoning, and how do you check a lot?

High Point regulates land development inside city limits through a Development Ordinance that combines zoning, development, environmental and subdivision standards.2 Use the city’s thePOINT property-information tool to review current zoning, then ask High Point Planning & Development at 336-883-3328 to confirm the proposed use and applicable dimensional standards.9 We could not confirm district-specific minimum lot sizes, dwelling sizes or numeric setbacks here; ask Planning & Development for the standards that apply to the actual parcel.9 High Point also regulates subdivisions, and final plats must be recorded with the county Register of Deeds before legal lots are eligible for sale and development.10

How do septic permits and private wells work inside High Point?

For High Point property in Guilford County that needs septic, Guilford County Environmental Health evaluates soils, issues improvement permits and construction authorizations, inspects installation and issues operating approvals for approved systems.3 North Carolina’s ordinary septic approval route requires an improvement permit and construction authorization before covered installation or repair, with engineered-option and Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator alternatives; maintenance is exempt from those approvals.11 An operation permit is required before occupancy or putting the wastewater system into use or reuse.12 A private drinking-water well needs a construction permit from the health department for the county where the well is located and a Certificate of Completion before use.7

Can you live in an RV or tiny home on High Point land?

We could not confirm whether High Point allows residential RV occupancy or temporary camping on a private lot; ask High Point Planning & Development about the intended use before buying an RV for the site.9 North Carolina accepts tiny homes as permanent single-family dwellings when the local building official permits them and the applicable building, foundation, sanitation, zoning, setback and covenant requirements are met.5 Units certified by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association are treated as recreational vehicles under the state guidance.5 State acceptance of a permanent tiny dwelling therefore does not establish permission for an RV on a High Point lot; the city’s zoning still applies.52

What are the steps to build a home in High Point?

  1. Review the parcel’s current zoning through thePOINT and ask High Point Planning & Development about the intended residential use.9
  2. For a Guilford County parcel needing septic, arrange Environmental Health’s soil evaluation and septic approvals; obtain the county health department’s construction permit before drilling a private drinking-water well.37
  3. Use the city’s permit-specific submittal guidance and apply through Accela Citizen Access for the appropriate building record type.4
  4. After permit issuance, schedule the inspections listed on the High Point permit as construction progresses and at completion.13
  5. Complete final inspection approval for the Certificate of Occupancy issued for a new structure or building addition.14

What should you check before buying land in High Point?

High Point’s building and zoning approvals are municipal responsibilities, while a Guilford County parcel’s septic evaluation belongs with Guilford County Environmental Health.423 For land outside High Point, consult the Guilford County guide: the county’s zoning rules cover unincorporated areas outside municipal extraterritorial jurisdictions.15 An existing septic system or well does not eliminate review: Guilford County Environmental Health requires an inspection before new construction on property with either.3 North Carolina also requires local floodplain development approval for covered development in Special Flood Hazard Areas; ask the city who handles that review for the parcel.16

Watch-outs

  • North Carolina’s owner-builder licensing exemption is conditional on ownership, intended personal occupancy and statutory affidavit and management duties; ask High Point Inspections Services how to document eligibility with the city building application.68
  • A High Point temporary Certificate of Occupancy may not exceed 90 days; ask the city about the required fee and conditions rather than treating temporary approval as permanent occupancy permission.14
  • We could not confirm High Point’s mandatory water or sewer connection rule or permission for off-grid sanitation; ask the Development Services Center to identify the required utility and health approvals before settling on a design.4

Sources

  1. Permits Required (High Point), quoted and re-checked
  2. Development Ordinance (High Point), quoted and re-checked
  3. Guilford County Environmental Health, On-Site Wastewater Program (guilfordcountync.gov)
  4. Permits Required (High Point), quoted and re-checked
  5. Guidelines for Tiny Homes in North Carolina (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  6. G.S. 87-1. "General contractor" defined; exceptions. (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  7. Rules Governing the Permitting and Inspection of Private Drinking Water Wells, 15A NCAC 02C .0300 (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  8. High Point Inspections Services (highpointnc.gov)
  9. High Point Planning & Development (highpointnc.gov)
  10. Development Ordinance (High Point), quoted and re-checked
  11. G.S. 130A-336. Improvement permit and construction authorization required (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  12. G.S. 130A-337. Inspection; operation permit required (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  13. Scheduling Inspections (High Point), quoted and re-checked
  14. Certificates (High Point), quoted and re-checked
  15. Codes and Ordinances, quoted and re-checked
  16. North Carolina Quick Guide: Applying for a Floodplain Development Permit (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked

Written October 11, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for High Point

High Point’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction, repair, or alteration of residential or commercial structures inside High Point city limits.

    • The page states that permits are required before construction, repair, or alteration; project-specific exceptions or additional requirements must be checked with the City.
    • A zoning permit is required for land-development activities not covered by the State Building Code.
    “The North Carolina Building Code requires that a building or construction permit must be obtained prior to the construction, repair or alteration of a residential or commercial structure.”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Permitted construction and development inside High Point city limits.

    • Required inspections depend on project type and are listed on the issued permit.
    • Permits must be issued before inspections are scheduled.
    • Required inspections are included in permit fees; optional inspections may have additional fees.
    “After a permit is issued, the construction project will require inspections during the construction process and at the end upon project completion. The inspections that are required depend upon the type of project, so the permit issued lists the required inspections for the project.”
  • Certificate of occupancyLimited

    New structures and building additions inside High Point city limits.

    • A Certificate of Occupancy is issued after final inspection approval under an issued permit.
    • A Certificate of Compliance is issued when a Certificate of Occupancy is not required.
    • Temporary Certificates of Occupancy may not exceed 90 days and require a fee.

    temporary certificate maximum duration: <= 90 days

    “A Certificate of Occupancy is issued for new structures and building additions. It certifies that upon final inspection the completed work met applicable State and local code requirements, the terms of the permit and that the building is safe for occupancy.”
  • Local zoningPresent

    Land inside High Point city limits.

    • The cited page also states that the ordinance applies in the City's extraterritorial jurisdiction; this claim is limited to the corporate limits.
    “The City of High Point regulates land development within the corporate limits and the extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) through its Development Ordinance. The Development Ordinance consolidates the City's zoning, development, environmental and subdivision standards into one unified ordinance.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    Subdivision and land divisions inside High Point city limits.

    • Land divisions meeting the City's Exclusion Map criteria are excepted from the subdivision definition.
    • Final plats must be recorded in the county Register of Deeds before legal lots are eligible for sale and development.
    “A subdivision is a land development that divides a parcel of land into two or more lots, except for those land divisions that meet the Exclusion Map criteria. It includes all divisions of land involving the dedication of a new street or a change in existing streets.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction and development permit process inside High Point city limits.

    • Applications are submitted through Accela Citizen Access for the applicable record type.
    • Permit-specific submittal requirements are provided through the City's permit forms and Build High Point guidance.
    • Final inspection and required approvals are part of project completion.
    “Permits are submitted to the Development Services Center online through Accela Citizen Access (ACA). Please see Selecting the Correct Record Type (PDF) for additional guidance on the type of permit that should be chosen during the online permitting process.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask High Point or Guilford County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder exemption for construction inside High Point city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Minimum dwelling size inside High Point city limits.
  • Minimum lot size — Minimum lot size inside High Point city limits.
  • Setbacks — Building setbacks inside High Point city limits.
  • Lot coverage — Lot coverage inside High Point city limits.
15 more unanswered
  • Building height
  • Living in an RV
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Accessory dwellings
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that High Point publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Guilford County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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