Buying a metal building in Catawba County, NC
In Catawba County one office issues building permits for everybody, but you cannot get one until the right zoning office has signed off, and which zoning office depends on where your lot is.
Who issues the permit
Official record
Catawba County Permit Center
100-A Southwest Blvd., Newton, NC 28658
(828) 465-8399
permit_center@catawbacountync.gov
Official website
| Zoning and other jurisdictions | Contact |
|---|---|
| City of Hickory | (828) 323-7410 |
| City of Newton | (828) 465-7400 |
| City of Conover | (828) 464-1191 |
| Town of Maiden | (828) 428-5007 |
| Town of Long View | (828) 322-3921 |
| City of Claremont | (828) 459-7009 |
| Town of Catawba | (828) 241-2215 |
| Unincorporated Catawba County | County Planning, (828) 465-8380 |
Checked against the offices’ own websites and forms on September 17, 2026. Phone numbers change. Confirm on the official site. Serves: Hickory, Newton, Conover, Maiden, Claremont, Long View.
Zoning first, then the permit
The county’s own handout lists what the Permit Center needs before it will issue a building permit for an accessory building: zoning approval from the proper jurisdiction, Environmental Health approval if the lot has or will have a septic system or well, a set of plans, and an application completed by the owner or contractor. A metal building seller who tells you “permits are easy here” is skipping the first two.
The rule that surprises people buying a shop for empty land
In the county’s residential zoning areas, the Unified Development Ordinance says an accessory structure such as a garage or outbuilding cannot be permitted unless a house already exists on the same lot, or a house permit is issued at the same time. If you are planning a metal building on a vacant residential parcel, call County Planning before you put down a deposit. My contract’s deposit was only refundable with a written permit rejection letter, minus the salesperson’s commission.
Hickory crosses county lines
The City of Hickory reaches into Burke and Caldwell counties, and Hickory mailing addresses extend into Alexander County, where my project is. The county line decides who inspects your footings. Check your parcel on the Catawba County GIS site and confirm the county before you apply.
Before you sign with any metal building company in Catawba County
I am a customer, not a contractor. I signed a $98,750 contract with L&G Building & Concrete in February 2026 and, seven months later, have a cracked slab and half a frame. Everything I learned is on this site.
Sources and other counties
- Catawba County permit procedure for dwellings and accessory buildings (PDF)
- Catawba County residential accessory structure requirements (PDF)
Other guides: Alexander County, Caldwell County, Burke County, Iredell County, Randolph County, Guilford County.
This page is general information from one customer’s research and experience. It is not legal advice, and the permit office has the final word on your lot.