Buying a metal building in Gaston County, NC
Gaston County consolidated building permits for the whole county in 2022. Gastonia kept zoning. If you are buying a metal building inside the city, you deal with both, in order.
Who issues the permit
Official record
Gaston County Building and Development Services
Official website
| Zoning and other jurisdictions | Contact |
|---|---|
| City of Gastonia zoning permit (required first inside the city) | (704) 866-6729, option 3; Garland Municipal Business Center, 150 S. York St., Gastonia, 8 am to 5 pm |
| Construction permit, all 13 municipalities and the county | Gaston County Building and Development Services, through the county’s Self Service portal |
Checked against the offices’ own websites and forms on September 17, 2026. Phone numbers change. Confirm on the official site. Serves: Gastonia, Belmont, Mount Holly, Dallas, Cherryville, Stanley, Bessemer City.
August 29, 2022: one permit system for the county
On that date Gaston County took over construction permits and inspections for the City of Gastonia, which until then had its own department. The city’s announcement said the goal was one centralized system for permitting and inspections across all 13 municipalities in the county. Metal building sellers who last worked in Gastonia before 2022 may still have the old process in their heads.
Zoning permit first, then the county
Inside Gastonia you need the city’s zoning permit before you apply to the county for the construction permit, and the county will not issue a certificate of occupancy without the city’s certificate of completion where one applies. Zoning is where setbacks, lot coverage and whether an accessory building is allowed get decided, so this is also where a 50×80 shop on a residential lot gets its first real look.
The owner statement is for small jobs
Gastonia’s forms include a notarized owner’s statement for permits under $30,000, in which the owner affirms the work is for their own use. That is the scale the owner-permit route was built for. A building and slab priced near $100,000 is a different kind of project, and if a seller is steering you to apply as the owner on one, call the county and ask what it expects to see on a project that size.
Towns in Gaston County with their own rules
Gastonia: Gastonia gave up building inspections to the county in 2022 but kept zoning. For a buyer that means two applications, two offices and one order to do them in.
Before you sign with any metal building company in Gaston 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
- City of Gastonia: consolidation of building inspection and permitting with Gaston County
- City of Gastonia permits and inspections
- Gastonia notarized owner statement for permits under $30,000 (PDF)
Other guides: Alexander County, Catawba County, Caldwell County, Burke County, Iredell County, Randolph County, Guilford County, Lincoln County, Wilkes County, Rowan County, Cleveland 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.