Continuing Education 2021 COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to COVID-19, the City of Asheville’s Building, Plumbing, Mechanical and Electrical classes have been canceled at this time. The City is not providing synchronous distance-learning options. The City continues to offer the Journeyman Electrician exam and the Homeowner Electrical exam. Please see below for application instructions. Please click here to check the calendar or contact Misty Lipe at mlipe@ashevillenc.gov with questions or concerns. Did you know that the Development Services Department offers training opportunities for professional development? Click here to view a calendar of upcoming classes and application deadlines. Class topics include: Mechanical Code Class: $65 Electrical Code Class: $65 Building Code Class: $65 Plumbing Code Class: $65 National Electrical Code (NEC) Class for Contractors: $80 Electrical Journeyman Test: $50 Journeyman Electrician’s License Journeyman licensing marks the second step in the apprenticeship-journeyman-master electrician licensing process. To work independently under a licensed North Carolina electrical contractor in Asheville, individuals must obtain a journeyman electrician’s license (UDO Chapter 9 – Article 6). Electrical apprentices become eligible to apply for the journeyman electrician’s license following 8,000 hours of documented work. This license must be renewed every 3 years. Once licensed, a journeyman electrician may supervise on-site up to two helpers or apprentices. A helper or apprentice is anyone using or handling any tools or materials of the electrical construction trade. View Electrician’s Code of Ordinances through MuniCode. Municode - Asheville License Application To begin the process of becoming a journeyman electrician, submit the Journeyman Exam application form online or in-person. To submit online, click here to complete the online Journeyman Exam application form. Follow the instructions at the bottom of the online application to pay the application fee. To submit in person, print off the Journeyman Exam application form and pay the application fee in-person at the Development Services Department (DSD) located at 161 S. Charlotte St. The Asheville Board of Electrical Examiners will determine your eligibility to take the Electrical Journeyman test. Once your eligibility has been approved, you will be automatically registered for the Electrical Journeyman Test offered by the City of Asheville. You will receive a letter from DSD with details about the exam location and time. Click here for the calendar of application deadlines and testing dates. The test will examine your knowledge of rules and regulations related to electrical wiring devices, applications and equipment installation as set forth in North Carolina statutes, City of Asheville ordinances and the National Electrical Code (NEC). You must receive a score of 75 or above to pass and become licensed as a Class I journeyman electrician. License Renewal Licenses expire three years after issuance on June 30. Renewal can be made any time within 30 days before expiration. To renew, visit DSD in-person with the following items: Current non-expired license Renewal fee (currently $30) Proof of 8 hours of continuing education courses approved by the North Carolina Board of Examiners for Electrical Contractors (NCBEEC) Applicants will be subject to a fee for late renewal and complete reexamination if license renewal lapses over one year. For more information about Class I journeyman electrician’s license, contact: Development Services Department 828-259-5658 Homeowner’s Electrical Exam A homeowner may elect to do his or her own electrical work without holding an electrical contractor’s license provided that: The applicant passes an electrical exam administered by the Building Safety Department An Electrical Permit is obtained The work is inspected by the electrical inspector The owner occupies the dwelling for 12 months after completion of the job Click here to register to take the homeowner electrical exam. Updated 04/05/2021 Related Services Learn about large-scale development Keep up to date on current projects and applications. Register a commercial development neighborhood meeting notice Register a notice for a commercial development neighborhood meeting. Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews. Schedule an optional early assistance meeting Receive expert technical advice from staff during the preliminary phase of a project, for prospective business owners, developers, and designers Apply for a commercial site development permit Submit development plans for Level I, Level II, Level III, Major Subdivision, Conditional Zoning, or Conditional Use projects. Apply for a homestay permit Apply for a new homestay permit or apply to renew your existing permit. Build an addition or remodel a house Forms and guides to remodel or build an addition to a residential property Apply for a trade permit Apply for residential and commercial electrical, gas piping, plumbing, mechanical, re-roof, or multi-trade permits. Build a detached structure or deck Guide and forms to build a deck, shed, solar array, retaining wall, swimming pool, or other accessory structure on a residential property Build a new house, duplex, townhome or modular home Links to all of the forms you may need to build a new house Look up information about a permit Use online tools to look up information about permits Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction. More Related Services Continuing Education News Updated City of Asheville Noise Ordinance goes into effect September 15 Posted on September 9, 2021 by Polly McDaniel At their July 27 meeting, Asheville City Council voted to update the City’s Noise Ordinance with an aim to identify and prioritize noise concerns and develop clear and enforceable thresholds for noise generation. As the newly revised ordinance will go into effect September 15, we wanted to let residents know where to find [...] Major disaster declaration granted for Western North Carolina counties damaged by Tropical Storm Fred, including Buncombe Posted on September 8, 2021September 8, 2021 by Polly McDaniel From the Office of Governor Roy Cooper: The White House and FEMA have granted Governor Roy Cooper’s Aug. 27 request for a major disaster declaration for seven North Carolina counties that were hit hard by floods after Tropical Storm Fred. “This federal disaster declaration will help provide assistance for Western North Carolina communities to rebuild stronger and [...] Flood damages? Info on dedicated call center and local resources Posted on August 20, 2021 by Polly McDaniel As our local leaders are assessing the damage to Buncombe County in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fred, Buncombe County Emergency Services is standing up a call center to connect residents to resources and information. To assist with disaster recovery, Buncombe County has activated a dedicated line for those impacted. An Emergency Services Call Center is [...] More Continuing Education News
Register a commercial development neighborhood meeting notice Register a notice for a commercial development neighborhood meeting.
Schedule a mandatory Technical Review Committee pre-application meeting Schedule your required pre-application meeting for Level II, Level III, Conditional Zoning and Major Subdivision reviews.
Schedule an optional early assistance meeting Receive expert technical advice from staff during the preliminary phase of a project, for prospective business owners, developers, and designers
Apply for a commercial site development permit Submit development plans for Level I, Level II, Level III, Major Subdivision, Conditional Zoning, or Conditional Use projects.
Build an addition or remodel a house Forms and guides to remodel or build an addition to a residential property
Apply for a trade permit Apply for residential and commercial electrical, gas piping, plumbing, mechanical, re-roof, or multi-trade permits.
Build a detached structure or deck Guide and forms to build a deck, shed, solar array, retaining wall, swimming pool, or other accessory structure on a residential property
Build a new house, duplex, townhome or modular home Links to all of the forms you may need to build a new house
Check whether your address is within city limits Search to see if it is within the City of Asheville's permitting jurisdiction.
Updated City of Asheville Noise Ordinance goes into effect September 15 Posted on September 9, 2021 by Polly McDaniel At their July 27 meeting, Asheville City Council voted to update the City’s Noise Ordinance with an aim to identify and prioritize noise concerns and develop clear and enforceable thresholds for noise generation. As the newly revised ordinance will go into effect September 15, we wanted to let residents know where to find [...]
Major disaster declaration granted for Western North Carolina counties damaged by Tropical Storm Fred, including Buncombe Posted on September 8, 2021September 8, 2021 by Polly McDaniel From the Office of Governor Roy Cooper: The White House and FEMA have granted Governor Roy Cooper’s Aug. 27 request for a major disaster declaration for seven North Carolina counties that were hit hard by floods after Tropical Storm Fred. “This federal disaster declaration will help provide assistance for Western North Carolina communities to rebuild stronger and [...]
Flood damages? Info on dedicated call center and local resources Posted on August 20, 2021 by Polly McDaniel As our local leaders are assessing the damage to Buncombe County in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Fred, Buncombe County Emergency Services is standing up a call center to connect residents to resources and information. To assist with disaster recovery, Buncombe County has activated a dedicated line for those impacted. An Emergency Services Call Center is [...]