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Commercial Plan Review 
Type of Reviews Available:
Additional  Information:
Contact Information:
Commercial Plan Review
Commercial Plan Review includes construction not associated with one- and two-family dwellings and townhomes. Commercial Plan Review does include multi-family construction such as apartments and condos. The commercial review includes plumbing, mechanical, electrical and fire reviews. Submit two copies (three copies if property is in a flood plain) of the commercial plans / documents to the Commercial Plan Coordinator in the Inspections Department front office. The documentation will be checked for completeness and review status by a Plans Examiner, also know as the Gatekeeper.
Standard Commercial Plan Review
Full building plans drawn to scale are required for all new commercial construction, additions, renovations, alterations, and change of building use, such as warehouse to church or store to restaurant. site plan is required when covering new ground (contact the Planning Department for site plan information requirements).
Review Time:
Fourteen to 21 business days, depending on Planning Department approval of site plan, if applicable. Read the Design Review Application.
Forms:
Commercial Application
Building Permit Fee Schedule
Commercial Building Plan Submittal Requirements
Codes Used:
2009 North Carolina Building Code
2006 North Carolina Modular Home Code
2009 North Carolina Plumbing Code
2009 North Carolina Mechanical Code
2008 North Carolina Electrical Code
2009 North Carolina Energy Code
2006 North Carolina Rehabilitation Code
2009 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code
Fees:
Paid for at time of application. Fees
Designer Requirement:
A designer is not required on projects where the building size is less than 2,500 sq.ft. or the value of the building is less than $90,000, except in cases where there are changes in the structural system, access or exit pattern, or change in the live or dead loads.
GS Statues
Designer Board
Contractor Requirement:
When cost of construction is less than or equal to $30,000, the building owner can act as his or her own contractor as long as the owner has owned and occupied the building for at least one year. If the cost of construction is greater than or equal to $30,000 and a contractor is hired, that contractor must be state licensed and have a city Privilege License. If the cost of construction is less than $30,000, the tenant may do the work him- or herself. If a contractor is hired, that contractor only needs a city Privilege License.
City of Greensboro Privilege License
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
GS Statues
Expedited Commercial Plan Review
Full plans drawn to scale are required for commercial projects of limited scope and not involving site work, changes of occupancy, or reviews by other departments. Eligibility will be determined by a Plans Examiner at time of application and plan submittal. Anticipated review time is three working days.
Review Time:
Three to five business days.
Codes Used:
2009 North Carolina Building Code
2006 North Carolina Modular Home Code
2009 North Carolina Plumbing Code
2009 North Carolina Mechanical Code
2008 North Carolina Electrical Code
2009 North Carolina Energy Code
2006 North Carolina Rehabilitation Code
2009 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code
Fees:
Paid for at time of application. No additional cost. Fees
Designer Requirement:
A designer is not required on projects where the building size is less than 2,500 sq.ft. or the value of the building is less than $90,000, except in cases where there are changes in the structural system, access or exit pattern, or change in the live or dead loads.
GS Statues
Designer Board
Contractor Requirement:
When cost of construction is less than or equal to $30,000, the building owner can act as his or her own contractor as long as the owner has owned and occupied the building for at least one year. If the cost of construction is greater than or equal to $30,000 and a contractor is hired, that contractor must be state licensed and have a city Privilege License. If the cost of construction is less than $30,000, the tenant may do the work him- or herself. If a contractor is hired, that contractor only needs a city Privilege License.
City of Greensboro Privilege License
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
GS Statues
Forms:
Commercial Plan Review by Appointment
Reviews by appointment may be scheduled through the Commercial Plans Coordinator or Chief Plans Examiner. These reviews require a minimum lead time for scheduling, advance review of preliminary plans, and attendance by all designers involved in the project. Plan Review by Appointment Requirements. Full plans drawn to scale are required. Site plan is required when covering new ground (contact the Planning Department for site plan information requirements).
Review Time:
Done at time of scheduled meeting and issued depending on Planning Department approval of site plan if applicable. Read the Design Review Application.
Codes Used:
2009 North Carolina Building Code
2006 North Carolina Modular Home Code
2009 North Carolina Plumbing Code
2009 North Carolina Mechanical Code
2008 North Carolina Electrical Code
2009 North Carolina Energy Code
2006 North Carolina Rehabilitation Code
2009 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code
Fees:
No additional cost.
Designer Requirement:
A designer is not required on projects where the building size is less than 2,500 sq.ft. or the value of the building is less than $90,000, except in cases where there are changes in the structural system, access or exit pattern, or change in the live or dead loads.
GS Statues
Designer Board
Contractor Requirement:
When cost of construction is less than or equal to $30,000, the building owner can act as his or her own contractor as long as the owner has owned and occupied the building for at least one year. If the cost of construction is greater than and equal to $30,000 and a contractor is hired, that contractor must be state licensed and have a city Privilege License. If the cost of construction is less than $30,000, the tenant may do the work his- or herself. If a contractor is hired, that contractor only needs a city Privilege License.
City of Greensboro Privilege License
North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors
GS Statues
Forms:
Preliminary / Courtesy Commercial Review
For complex commercial projects, informal reviews of plans may be arranged in order to address major code impacts early in the design process. This can include all trade reviewers, if needed. Contact the Chief Plans Examiner to schedule a preliminary review.
Review Time:
At scheduled time. No permit issued.
Codes Used:
2009 North Carolina Building Code
2006 North Carolina Modular Home Code
2009 North Carolina Plumbing Code
2009 North Carolina Mechanical Code
2008 North Carolina Electrical Code
2009 North Carolina Energy Code
2006 North Carolina Rehabilitation Code
2009 North Carolina Fuel Gas Code
Fees:
No cost.
Designer Requirement:
Designed plans are not required, but are helpful. The more complete a plan is, the better the consultation will be. All comments, suggestions, code research, and discussion are informal. A formal review will be required for the issuance of a permit.
Contractor Requirement:
Not applicable at this time.
Forms:
Not applicable at this time.
Applicable Codes
The 2009 North Carolina Building Code and associated volumes are currently in force throughout the state. The Greensboro Inspections Department does not have copies of these publications for distribution or sale. For copies of the codes, contact the North Carolina Department of Insurance Office of the State Fire Marshal (NCDOI) or the North Carolina section of the International Code Council’s (ICC) E-codes Web site at the links below. Some code books may also be available at community college bookstores.
Fees
Building Permit Fees, based on general construction cost (without mechanical, electrical, and plumbing cost), will be collected upon submittal of the application. Mechanical, electrical, and plumbing permit fees are paid separately by the licensed contractors who obtain those permits.
Site Plans
Staff or Technical Review Committee (TRC) reviews are required on all projects covering new ground or altering site features. Contact the Planning Department's Nicole Ward at 373-5757 for plan requirements related to site improvements.
Contact Information
Plan Review Section
Greensboro Inspections Department
Meet your Plan Review Staff
1001 Fourth Street
Greensboro, NC 27405
Phone: 336-373-2155
Fax: 336-333-6056
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