The City of Morganton Development and Design Department would like to help citizens become aware of licensing requirements that apply to contractors doing work within city limits. It is important to verify that the contractor you plan to use has the appropriate license as required by North Carolina law. Some unlicensed contractors may not have adequate insurance, and they may expose you and your assets to significant financial harm in the event of an injury or property damage.ย
A permit and a licensed contractor is required for work including, but not limited to:ย
- Replacing your heating and cooling system
- Adding/repairing plumbingย
- Electrical wiring in your home
- Building a new additionย
North Carolina General Statutes require individuals to hold a valid North Carolina License from the respective boards listed below:
Plumbing/ Heating & Air Conditioning/ Fire Sprinkler
Minor repairs and service work to plumbing and heating systems, except for anyone who contracts to install, alter or restore plumbing, heating (including air conditioning) or fire sprinkler systems must have a license from the State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors. They can be contacted atย
1109 Dresser Court
Raleigh, NC 27609
919-875-3612
Contact City of Morganton Building Department at 438-5266 to determine if your work requires a permit.ย
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Electricalย
Anyone who contracts to install, maintain, alter or restore any electrical work must have a license from the State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors.ย
1200 Front Street, Suite 105
P. O. Box 18727
Raleigh, NC 27619
919-733-9042
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General Construction
In general, anyone who contracts to do general construction work where the cost of the undertaking is $40,000 or more must have a valid North Carolina General Contractor's license issued by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Important information regarding North Carolina licensing for General Contractors may be found on the NCLBGC website:ย http://www.nclbgc.org/. They are located at the following address.
3739 National Drive, Suite 225
P. O. Box 17187
Raleigh, NC 27619
919-571-4183
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The City of Morganton Building Inspections Division of the Department of Development and Design Services is responsible for issuing the permits for the work to be performed by contractors or the property owner. Work is inspected when completed to make sure it complies with the North Carolina Building Codes and Regulations. Depending on the type of work done, there may also be required inspections while the work is in progress. Your contractor is responsible for scheduling these inspections. If at all possible, you should plan to be present when inspections are made, ask questions, and make frequent inspections yourself.
Heating and Air/Cooling companies doing business without the appropriate license(s) are not allowed to install new heating and cooling units. They are only allowed to do โservice workโ. Some local contractors have been installing HVAC equipment without being properly licensed. These contractors have been notified by the State Heating Board to immediately stop installing new units until they are properly licensed. To find out if your contractor is properly licensed, you can contact the Development and Design Services Department at permits [at] morgantonnc.gov (permits[at]morgantonnc[dot]gov) or 828-438-5266.
Please be careful if you hire an unlicensed contractor. If you have a problem with the company, the quality of work, and/or the materials and equipment installed, your only option would likely be pursuing civil remedies in court. This may require hiring an attorney. The State licensing board for that type of work would not be able to help you in pursuing interior work by unlicensed contractors. You may also be required to remove the work completed by the unlicensed person and have it reinstalled by a licensed contractor at your expense. ย