For New Commercial Permits
Visit the Alamance County Planning Department, located in the same building as the Central Permitting Office, where they will identify and enter your parcel into our database. (If you are located within a municipality, go to your town’s Planning Department first.)
Contact the County’s GIS Mapping Specialist (same location, 336-570-4085) where you will be assigned an address for your parcel.
Apply for the Environmental Health Permits that are needed.
For Trade Permits
Submit a completed permit application to the Central Permitting Office. Commercial applications may require plans for review. Pay all associated fees.
Commercial Plan Review Procedure
Electronic Plan Submittal (requested for all new buildings, large upfits and remodels)
Initial submittals
• Please provide one complete set of electronic plans. An appendix B and life safety plan must be included as part of the set. (e-mail, CD, flash drive or link to a cloud file)
• Electronic plans must be submitted as one file in PDF format that includes all pages.
• All plan pages must be sealed by a NC licensed design professional unless plans are exempt per NCAC 204.3.5
• Submittals must include a commercial building permit application and review fee. Incomplete submittals will be rejected.
• Projects on sites not served by municipal water and sewer must also be accompanied by an “Authorization to Construct” issued by Environmental Health.
Alamance County EH can be reached at (336) 570-6367. For Guilford County call (336) 641-3171.
• Electronic submittals may be e-mailed to planreview@alamance-nc.com
• Paper documents and checks should be sent to: Inspections – plan review, 201 W Elm Street Graham, NC 27253.
• Payments are also accepted over the telephone via credit or debit card.( Visa, Master card or Discover) Call the front office at (336) 290-0404.
• The application must include any required planning and zoning approvals.
• If the project is in Haw River, a separate paper copy must be submitted directly to their Fire plans Reviewer. Their phone # is (336) 578-1355.
• You will be notified via e-mail when your submittal is accepted for review. An e-mail contact is required.
• Once accepted, you will receive an approval or comments via e-mail within ten business days.
Revisions:
• Please submit a complete set of revised plans with all changes clouded and altered pages re-sealed, along with an explanation or response to comments.
• Once submitted, you will receive an approval or further comments
Plan approval
• Once plans are approved and the building permit has been issued, you will receive an e-mail with approved plans or a link to a cloud file.
• The contractor will be responsible for having the approved stamped set printed and available on the jobsite for all inspections.
• Any changes to approved plans must be submitted and approved prior to implementation.
Paper Plans (small upfits, remodels, change of use, FA and Fire suppression only)
Initial submittals
• If a paper submittal , please submit one complete set of plans stapled along with any other required documents and submittals (see above)
• Partial sets or non-collated pages will not be accepted.
• If the project is located in Gibsonville, a complete set of plans must be submitted to Guilford County EMS. Their phone # is (336) 641-7565.
• Once we accept your plans and application, you will receive our approval or comments within ten business days. An email address is required.
• Paper documents and checks may be sent to: Inspections – plan review, 201 W Elm St. Graham, NC 27253.
Revisions (paper format)
• Submit one complete revised sets (except in Haw river or Guilford Co., see above) with all changes clouded and altered pages re-sealed, along with an explanation or response to comments.
• Partial sets or non-collated pages will not be accepted.
• Once submitted, you will receive an approval or additional comments .
Plan approval
• One approved set will be returned to you at the time the permit is issued. It must be available to the inspector at the jobsite for all inspections.
• Any changes to approved plans must be submitted and approved prior to implementation.