Asheville permits go through Development Services at 161 S. Charlotte St. or the online Development Portal. Permit center: 828-259-5846; Planner of the Day: 828-259-5450.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Asheville’s Development Services Department and Planning and Urban Design Department.

Inside the city limits, building permits, inspections and zoning are handled by the City of Asheville. Outside them, Buncombe County Permits and Inspections, at 35 Woodfin St., is the office to call. To check which one covers your address, search it on SimpliCity, the city’s property lookup.

Who to call

  • Permit Application Center: 828-259-5846, PAC@AshevilleNC.gov, 161 S. Charlotte St., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday
  • Planner of the Day (zoning questions): 828-259-5450, POD@AshevilleNC.gov, in person 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Building code hotline: 828-259-5967
  • Stormwater, grading and flood hotline: 828-259-5670
  • Apply online: Development Portal

How to apply

Residential permit applications go in online through the Development Portal or on paper at the Permit Application Center. Applications and payments received after 4:30 p.m. are processed the next business day, and the center is closed on public holidays, according to the Development Services page. Inspections run 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. weekdays.

The city’s residential application page sorts the forms by project:

  • Build a new house (the application, plus a Metropolitan Sewerage District sewer application and a water availability and meter application)
  • Build an addition to or remodel a house
  • Build a stand-alone structure or deck
  • Fix or install a home system (electrical, gas piping, plumbing or mechanical)
  • Apply for a homestay permit
  • Apply for a home-based business permit

The city asks that forms be complete; missing information slows the review. The city also warns permit customers that it never asks for payment by wire transfer; call the center if a payment request looks wrong.

Zoning and your lot

Asheville’s zoning rules are in the Unified Development Ordinance, part of the city code. SimpliCity shows a property’s zoning district, and the Planner of the Day answers questions by phone, email or in person.

Two rules people ask about most:

  • Accessory dwelling units. If your lot is in a residential zone and has a single-family house, you can usually build one ADU, a small home with its own kitchen, bathroom and living area. You need a permit before work starts, and private deed covenants can still forbid one, the city’s ADU page says.
  • Short-term rentals. Renting a whole home for less than 30 days, a short-term vacation rental, is allowed only in the resort zoning district. A homestay permit lets a full-time resident in a residential zone rent one or two bedrooms for less than 30 days at a time, according to the homestay page. Homestay permits are renewed every year.

Historic districts

Asheville has four local historic districts: Albemarle Park, Biltmore Village, Montford and St. Dunstan’s, plus individual local landmarks. Every property in a local district is subject to design review, according to the city’s historic districts page. Exterior work needs a certificate of appropriateness from the Historic Resources Commission, 828-259-5638. Minor work such as a roof replacement or rear fence is reviewed by staff, typically within 10 business days; larger projects go to the commission. The certificate is design approval only, not a building permit, according to the certificate page.

Building after Helene

Owners rebuilding in a floodplain after Tropical Storm Helene can book a free session with the city’s Flood Assistance Support Team, held Tuesdays and Thursdays. The team has been reviewing permits put on hold for properties with substantial storm damage. Email fast@ashevillenc.gov or see the FAST page.

Public meetings

Rezonings and appeals are heard in public at City Hall, 70 Court Plaza, according to the city’s meeting calendar:

Board Next meetings
Planning and Zoning Commission 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Wednesday, Dec. 2
Board of Adjustment 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 26, and Monday, Nov. 23

Large projects are on the city’s current development map.

What this means for you

  • Check SimpliCity first: city or county decides who issues your permit.
  • Call the Planner of the Day before you design anything.
  • In Montford, Albemarle Park, Biltmore Village or St. Dunstan’s, get design approval as well as the permit.
  • Whole-home rentals under 30 days are allowed only in the resort district.

More: property taxes and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Where do I get a building permit in Asheville?

From the city’s Development Services Department, online through the Development Portal or in person at the Permit Application Center, 161 S. Charlotte St., 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Call 828-259-5846.

How do I find my zoning in Asheville?

Search your address on SimpliCity, the city’s property lookup, which also shows whether the address is inside the city’s permitting jurisdiction. The Planner of the Day hotline, 828-259-5450, answers zoning questions.

Can I build an accessory dwelling unit in Asheville?

Usually, if your lot is in a residential zone and has a single-family house on it. You need a permit from Development Services before work starts, and private deed restrictions can still ban one.

Can I rent my Asheville house as a short-term rental?

Renting a whole home for less than 30 days is allowed only in the resort zoning district. A homestay permit lets a full-time resident rent one or two bedrooms.

When does the Asheville Planning and Zoning Commission meet?

Its next in-person meetings are at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, and Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2026, at City Hall, 70 Court Plaza.