Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Town of Arapahoe, North Carolina

Rules another office applies inside Town of Arapahoe

Town of Arapahoe does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

• Building permitRequired

  Construction and listed building-system work inside Arapahoe town limits.

  • Except as provided in G.S. 160D-1110(c) and G.S. 160D-1110.1(h).
  • The requirement is for permits required by the North Carolina State Building Code and other applicable State or local laws.
  • A listed activity includes construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, removal, or demolition of a building or structure.

  “Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, and subsection (h) of G.S. 160D-1110.1, no person shall commence or proceed with any of the following without first securing all permits required by the North Carolina State Building Code and any other State or local laws applicable to any of the following activities:”

• Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

  Buildings within Arapahoe town limits.

  • The Code applies throughout North Carolina from its adoption, subject to statutory exclusions and exemptions.

  “Except as otherwise provided in this section, the North Carolina State Building Code shall apply throughout the State, from the time of its adoption.”

• InspectionsRequired

  Work performed under a building permit inside Arapahoe town limits.

  • Inspections occur as work progresses and in the number necessary to determine compliance with applicable State and local law and the permit.
  • For an owner exempt from licensure under G.S. 87-1(b)(2), no inspection may occur without the owner present unless plans were drawn and sealed by a Chapter 83A licensed architect.

  “Subject to the limitation imposed by G.S. 160D-1104(d), as the work pursuant to a building permit progresses, local inspectors shall make as many inspections thereof as may be necessary to satisfy them that the work is being done according to the provisions of any applicable State and local laws and of the terms of the permit.”

• Certificate of occupancyRequired

  New, added, enlarged, altered, or moved buildings inside Arapahoe town limits that are subject to a building permit.

  • A temporary certificate may permit occupancy for a stated period if the inspector finds safe occupancy before final completion.
  • The completed work must comply with applicable State and local laws and permit terms.

  “Except as provided by subsection (b) of this section, no new building or part thereof may be occupied, no addition or enlargement of an existing building may be occupied, and no existing building that has been altered or moved may be occupied, until the inspection department has issued a certificate of compliance.”

• Off-grid sanitationLimited

  Residences and other water-using facilities inside Arapahoe town limits that use off-grid or on-site sanitation.

  • The owner or controller must provide an approved wastewater system.
  • Wastewater from water-using fixtures and appliances connected to a water supply must discharge to that approved system, except as another provision of law allows.

  “A person owning or controlling a residence, place of business or a place of public assembly shall provide an approved wastewater system. Except as may be allowed under another provision of law, all wastewater from water-using fixtures and appliances connected to a water supply source shall discharge to the approved wastewater system.”

• Well permitRequired

  Private drinking-water wells inside Arapahoe town limits.

  • The requirement excludes wells required to be permitted by the Environmental Management Commission under G.S. 87-88.
  • A repair permit is not required for repair or replacement of a pump or tank.
  • Private-well maintenance that does not involve breaking or opening the well seal does not require a repair permit.

  “Each county, through the local health department that serves the county, shall implement a private drinking water well permitting, inspection, and testing program. The local health department shall be the exclusive authority for the permitting of wells and well systems as described in G.S. 143-138(b17)(2).”

• Agricultural exemptionConditional

  Specified farm buildings and primitive structures inside Arapahoe town limits, for North Carolina building-rule purposes.

  • The exclusion applies to farm buildings inside a municipality only if they are greenhouses or therapeutic equine facilities.
  • It also covers a primitive camp and a primitive farm building.
  • The statute defines a farm building as a nonresidential building or structure used for a bona fide farm purpose.

  “Building rules do not apply to (i) farm buildings that are located outside the building-rules jurisdiction of any municipality, (ii) farm buildings that are located inside the building-rules jurisdiction of any municipality if the farm buildings are greenhouses or therapeutic equine facilities, (iii) a primitive camp, or (iv) a primitive farm building.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Arapahoe or Pamlico County directly.

• Local zoning — Land inside Arapahoe town limits in Pamlico County, North Carolina.
• Zoning districts — Land inside Arapahoe town limits.
• Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Arapahoe town limits.
• Minimum lot size — Lots inside Arapahoe town limits.
• Setbacks — Development inside Arapahoe town limits.

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.