Building Inspections

Caleb-Connor-Lee-Ruth-Joey-Jeremy-Shane   

We now have an online portal.  You can apply for permits, schedule inspections, and see your results.  You can access the portal through this link:
Civic Access (tylerhost.net)
Our inspectors leave out between 7:30-8:00 AM.   Be sure your inspection will be ready by 7:30 AM.  If not, please schedule it for the next day.   There will be no exceptions.

You can also access public records and our county GIS as a guest from this link.


We do next-day inspections.  You must schedule your inspection by 3:30 PM the day before, then you may call your inspector the morning of your inspection to get an approximate time he will be in your area. 

Rutherford County Building/Fire Inspections

270 N Toms St
Rutherfordton, NC  28139
(828) 287-6035 
(828) 287-6338 (fax)
permits@rutherfordcountync.gov
Our office is located just off E 7th St--approximately 2 blocks N of the courthouse (229 N Main St).


We are open 7:30 AM- 4:00 PM.  

We enforce the  2018 NC Code for Building, Residential, Plumbing, Mechanical, and Fuel Gas  and the 2020 NEC (Commercial Only) and 2017 NEC (Residential Only).

Shane Dotson, Director

Caleb Wilson, Senior Inspector   

Joey Turrubiarte, Fire Inspector 

Lee Pace, Building Inspector
Lee's normal inspection route includes the areas of Green Hill-Chimney Rock-Lake Lure-upper Union Mills.

Jeremy Hill, Building Inspector
Jeremy's inspection route includes the areas of Bostic-Ellenboro-Gilkey-Golden Valley-Sunshine-lower Union Mills.

Connor Hensley
Conner's inspection route includes the areas of Caroleen/Henrietta-Forest City-Rutherfordton-Spindale-Shiloh/Danieltown.


Ruth Sams, Administrative Assistant   

Once you have an assigned building inspector, it is best to talk with him as he will know you, your site, and your project, and can best answer your questions or concerns. Until that time and for general inquiries, inspection/permit requests, or for correspondences related to your permit such as termite verifications, engineering designs, etc., please e-mail us at permits@rutherfordcountync.gov.  Please be sure to reference your permit number if you have one assigned.

All commercial building plans MUST be reviewed--before permitting--by a fire inspector, as well as a building inspector.

FY 2023 per NC GS 160D-402D