Bolthole Index

Cabarrus County, North Carolina

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Concord, North Carolina

New buildings, additions and most alterations inside Concord, North Carolina need a building permit, and the city sets zoning within city limits12. Concord reviews zoning while Cabarrus County reviews the building side, through one application3. Septic and well permits come from Cabarrus Health Alliance, not the city45.

At a glance

Building permit
Required for new buildings, additions and most alterations; Cabarrus County reviews the building side13
Zoning
Concord's own Development Ordinance and zoning map apply inside city limits26
Septic permit
Cabarrus Health Alliance Environmental Health issues septic permits4
Driveway permit
Concord driveway permit, applied for in Accela7
Manufactured homes
Permitted only in the MH Manufactured Home Overlay District8
Building height (AG and RL)
35 feet in the AG and RL districts910
Property tax (Cabarrus County)
Effective rate of 0.8%, median bill $2,429 a year1112

Who to call

Zoning

City of Concord Planning & Development Services

Zoning review and zoning permits inside Concord city limits

704-920-5152

35 Cabarrus Ave W, Concord, NC 28025

Building permits

Cabarrus County Construction Standards Division

Building plan review, permits and inspections, including inside Concord

704-920-2128

inspections@cabarruscounty.us

65 Church St S, Concord, NC 28025

Septic permits

Cabarrus Health Alliance – Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater)

Septic soil evaluations, septic permits and installation inspections for Cabarrus County, city or not

704-920-1000

526 Cabarrus Ave. W., Concord, NC 28027

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

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

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Does Concord, NC have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, tiny homes and lot size?

Yes. Concord regulates land development inside city limits through its Development Ordinance, using zoning and subdivision processes2. The Official Zoning Map divides the city into districts, and conditional districts can add stricter standards6. Dimensional rules depend on the district: in the AG Agricultural and RL Residential Low Density districts, the maximum building height is 35 feet910. New residential subdivisions follow the ordinance's subdivision design standards13.

Manufactured homes used as a principal or accessory dwelling are permitted only in Concord's MH Manufactured Home Overlay District8. North Carolina law separately bars cities from excluding manufactured homes from their whole zoning jurisdiction14.

We could not confirm Concord's rules for living in an RV on a private lot, temporary camping or tiny-home occupancy, so ask Concord Planning & Development Services before you plan around any of them15. State guidance says a tiny home built as a permanent dwelling must be permitted by the local building official and meet local zoning and setback rules16.

Do you need a building permit in Concord, and who issues it?

Yes. Concord's own page says new building construction, additions and alterations typically require a building permit, except for very minor changes1. Concord reviews zoning, and Cabarrus County Construction Standards reviews the building side; one application covers both, so you do not submit separately to each3.

The city's residential forms cover new houses and other residential construction such as accessory structures, sheds, decks, covered porches and pools, all filed in the Accela portal3. Residential driveways inside the city are reviewed in Accela too, as a Concord Driveway permit application under "Other"7.

Inspections and the certificate of compliance come from the building side. Cabarrus County Construction Standards provides building inspections and permitting services for all areas within Cabarrus County, Concord included17. Under state law, no new building may be occupied until a certificate of compliance is issued18.

How do septic permits work inside Concord?

Septic permits for Concord addresses come from Cabarrus Health Alliance Environmental Health, the same agency that serves the rest of Cabarrus County4. The agency issues permits for new septic systems and for needed repairs19, and a soil evaluation first determines whether a site suits ground-absorption sewage disposal20.

Inside the city, many lots connect to public sewer. Where a Concord accessory dwelling has no public sanitary sewer service, the County Health Department must approve its sewage service before construction21. We could not confirm a general septic-permit rule for lots inside Concord, so call Cabarrus Health Alliance before you buy a lot you expect to put on septic19.

Private drinking water wells also need a well construction permit from the local health department22. In Cabarrus County, Cabarrus Health Alliance issues them4.

Building a home in Concord: the steps, in order

  1. Confirm the lot's zoning district on Concord's Official Zoning Map and read the district's standards in the Development Ordinance6.
  2. If the lot is not on public sewer, book a soil evaluation with Cabarrus Health Alliance before you design the house20.
  3. Create an Accela account, choose the residential review or permit type, and upload your documents as PDFs3.
  4. Include the Cabarrus County Construction Standards applications with the construction submission, since Concord reviews zoning and the county reviews building3.
  5. Apply for the Concord Driveway permit in Accela7.
  6. Schedule inspections through Cabarrus County as work progresses23.
  7. Get the certificate of compliance before anyone moves in18.

If you plan to build your own home, the state's owner-builder exemption requires a verified affidavit, personal supervision of the work and presence at inspections. For projects costing $40,000 or more you must also show proof of licensure or exemption, and a building not occupied by you for 12 months after completion is presumed not to have qualified24. We could not confirm a separate owner-builder rule from Concord.

What stays with Cabarrus County, and what should you check before you buy in Concord?

The county's zoning rules cover only unincorporated land. Cabarrus County's zoning division handles zoning in the unincorporated areas, and a property inside a municipality or its extraterritorial area follows that municipality's regulations25. For land outside Concord's limits, see the Cabarrus County page.

What stays with the county either way: building plan review and inspections3, and septic and well permits through Cabarrus Health Alliance4.

Before you buy, check three things. First, ask whether the lot is in a floodplain, because development in a Special Flood Hazard Area needs a Floodplain Development Permit from the local community26. Second, for septic-dependent lots, remember that only about 32.8% of Cabarrus County soils rate "not limited" for a conventional drain field, so expect a site evaluation and possibly an engineered system27. Third, budget for carrying costs: Cabarrus County's effective property tax rate is 0.8% and the median bill is $2,429 a year1112.

Watch-outs

  • Concord Planning & Development Services handles zoning, while Cabarrus County Construction Standards handles building review; a single Accela submission reaches both, but each office answers for its own part3.
  • Concord's rules for private-lot RV living, tiny homes, off-grid sanitation and minimum home size are unconfirmed, so ask Concord Planning & Development Services before you rely on any of them15.
  • We could not confirm a published fee schedule for Concord construction permits, so ask Cabarrus County Construction Standards and the city for current fees17.
  • Do not use the Cabarrus County unincorporated setback and lot-size rules for a lot inside Concord; they apply only outside municipalities and their extraterritorial areas25.

Sources

  1. Licenses & Permits (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  2. Development Ordinance (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  3. Permits (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  4. cabarruscounty.us, quoted and re-checked
  5. Drinking Water Wells, quoted and re-checked
  6. Concord Development Ordinance, Article 7: Base Zoning Districts (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  7. concordnc.gov (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  8. Concord Development Ordinance, Article 8: Use Regulations (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  9. Concord Development Ordinance, Article 7: Base Zoning Districts (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  10. Concord Development Ordinance, Article 7: Base Zoning Districts (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  11. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  12. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data
  13. Concord Development Ordinance, Article 7: Base Zoning Districts (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  14. Chapter 160D, G.S. 160D-910. Manufactured homes (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  15. City of Concord Planning & Development Services (concordnc.gov)
  16. Guidelines for Tiny Homes in North Carolina (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  17. Cabarrus County Construction Standards Division (cabarruscounty.us)
  18. G.S. 160D-1116. Certificates of compliance; temporary certificates of occupancy. (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Cabarrus Health Alliance – Environmental Health (Onsite Wastewater) (cabarrushealth.org)
  20. Onsite Wastewater, quoted and re-checked
  21. Concord Development Ordinance, Article 8: Use Regulations (Concord), quoted and re-checked
  22. Rules Governing the Permitting and Inspection of Private Drinking Water Wells, 15A NCAC 02C .0300 (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  23. Construction Standards, quoted and re-checked
  24. G.S. 87-1. "General contractor" defined; exceptions. (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. Zoning/Enforcement FAQ, quoted and re-checked
  26. North Carolina Quick Guide: Applying for a Floodplain Development Permit (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  27. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 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 Concord

Concord’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    New building construction, additions, and alterations inside Concord city limits.

    • The City page states an exception for very minor changes.
    • Cabarrus County handles building review while Concord handles zoning review.
    “New building construction, additions, and alterations typically require a building permit, except for very minor changes.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Concord city limits.

    • The CDO regulates land development through zoning and subdivision processes.
    “The ordinance regulates land development in the city through zoning and subdivision processes.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Land inside Concord city limits.

    • The Official Zoning Map accompanies and is incorporated into the CDO.
    • Conditional districts may impose more restrictive development standards.
    “the City Council, as shown on the Official Zoning Map accompanying this Ordinance and incorporated herein by this reference, is hereby divided into the following zoning districts”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes used as principal or accessory dwelling units inside Concord city limits.

    • The ordinance states that manufactured homes as principal or accessory dwelling units are permitted only in the MH Manufactured Home Overlay District.
    “Manufactured homes, as principal or accessory dwelling units, shall be permitted only in the MH Manufactured Home Overlay District.”
  • Who permits septicCounty (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units inside Concord city limits where public sanitary sewer service is unavailable.

    • County Health Department approval is required before construction when there is no public sanitary sewer service.
    “Where there is no public sanitary sewer service to the Accessory Dwelling unit, County Health Department shall approve sanitary sewer services provided to such Accessory Dwelling unit prior to its construction.”
  • Subdividing landRegulated (with conditions)

    New residential subdivisions inside Concord city limits.

    • The cited standards apply to new residential subdivisions unless otherwise stated.
    • They apply to preliminary-plat applications after September 8, 2005 or subdivisions where lots have not received a Zoning Clearance Permit.
    “Subdivision design for residential development shall be regulated in accordance with the following standards.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Residential driveways inside Concord city limits.

    • Applicant must create a Concord Driveway permit application under "Other" in Accela.
    “Residential driveways are now reviewed within Accela. Applicants will need to create a Concord Driveway permit application under "Other" within Accela.”
  • Permit processPublished (with conditions)

    Construction applications inside Concord city limits.

    • Construction applications are reviewed by Concord for zoning and Cabarrus County for building.
    • Applicants must create an Accela account, select a review or permit type, and upload documents in PDF format.
    “Applications for construction are reviewed by both the City of Concord (for zoning) and Cabarrus County (for building), so there is no need to submit separately to both entities.”

Rules another office applies inside Concord

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

  • Building heightSpecified

    AG Agricultural District inside Concord city limits.

    • Airport Overlay zoning regulations govern height within the Airport Overlay District.
    • Specified structures and appurtenances are excepted from district height restrictions.

    maximum building height: 35 feet (subject to table notes and height exceptions)

    “AG** 43,560 1 - 30^ 200 200 35 RE ** 43,560 1 - 30^ 150 150 35 RL** 20,000 2 - 15^ 100 125 35”
    One more reviewed finding on this topic

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Concord or Cabarrus County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Construction inside Concord city limits.
  • Building code adopted — Construction inside Concord city limits.
  • Inspections — Residential construction inside Concord city limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Concord city limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Concord city limits.
10 more unanswered
  • Camping on your land
  • Tiny homes
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Well permit
  • Mandatory utility hookup
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

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 Concord publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Cabarrus County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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