We do free roof inspections in Bolivia and across Brunswick and New Hanover counties, and the estimate is free too. If you're planning a roof replacement and want to know what the permit side looks like before work starts, call (910) 228-8034 or request a free roof inspection.

Short answer: in Bolivia, Brunswick County handles building inspections, so when a roof needs a building permit, it comes from the county's Central Permitting, not the town. Under North Carolina law, replacing the roof on a single-family home generally doesn't need a building permit when the work costs $40,000 or less, and state guidance says that includes replacing up to 15% of the existing roof deck. Bigger jobs, structural work and adding roofing (rather than replacing it) can need a permit. When a permit is required, we get it.

Who handles what in Bolivia

Brunswick County's municipal jurisdictions table splits the work like this for the Town of Bolivia:

  • County: building inspection, fire inspection and flood jurisdiction.
  • Town: zoning, addressing and stormwater.

The county's Code Administration department includes Building Inspections, Central Permitting and the Fire Marshal, and its office is in Bolivia. For building permit questions, the county says to call Central Permitting at 910-253-2021, option 2, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

What North Carolina law says about roof replacement

G.S. 160D-1110(c) says no building permit is required for work costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building or commercial building, when it's done to the North Carolina State Building Code. The law then lists six things that still need a permit at any cost. The ones that come up most with roofs:

  • work on load-bearing structures
  • materials the State Building Code doesn't permit
  • “the addition of roofing, excluding replacement”

Brunswick County's own Do I Need a Permit? page puts it in plainer terms: generally, a building permit isn't required for nonstructural work under $40,000 in a single-family home.

So the cost of the work matters, and so does what the job actually is. A like-for-like replacement is treated differently from a structural repair or new roof area.

Decking and the 15% line

The NC Office of State Fire Marshal's guidance on this law says the roofing exemption covers “the replacement of roofing and up to 15% of the total existing roof deck” for projects costing $40,000 or less, and points to the roof replacement section of the 2018 North Carolina Residential Code. The same paper notes that it isn't legal advice.

New wood decking panel set into older roof decking after the shingles were removed
A new decking panel set into the older roof deck after tear-off, on a Vera's Roofing job.

Decking sits under the shingles and underlayment, so settle two things before the job starts: how replacement decking is priced, and how you'll approve extra work. Our roof replacement page lists that among the questions to ask any roofer.

Planning a roof replacement in Bolivia

  • Start with an inspection. We inspect the roof first. Then we go over tear-off, decking, flashing, ventilation and underlayment with you before we agree on the work.
  • Compare estimates on the same scope. Look at the same roof areas, tear-off and decking assumptions, flashing and ventilation details, and written warranty terms.
  • Ask who gets the permit. With us, when a permit is required, we get it.
  • If a permit is issued, inspections are scheduled through a Brunswick County Permit Portal account, and a project that isn't ready for inspection may be charged a reinspection fee (county inspection information).
  • Not sure if your job needs a permit? Central Permitting is the office that can answer it for your property.

Bolivia is one of the Brunswick County communities we serve, along with Supply and Winnabow. See the other towns on our Brunswick County page, or read our Southport roof inspection guide for a town that runs its own inspections.

What we install

  • Shingles: CertainTeed and GAF 30-year shingles. We're a CertainTeed ShingleMaster.
  • Metal: 5-V, Multi-Rib and standing seam. For painted metal panels, we recommend 26-gauge minimum.

About Vera's Roofing

  • Family-owned and insured. We're a family-owned roofer serving Brunswick and New Hanover counties, and we carry workers' comp and general liability insurance.
  • Warranty. We offer a one-year labor-and-materials warranty on installs plus manufacturer warranties.
  • Permits and tarping. We handle permits when they're required, and we tarp roofs when a temporary cover is needed.

Questions about roof replacement permits in Bolivia

Do I need a permit to replace my roof in Bolivia, NC?

Generally not, for a single-family home. State law exempts work costing $40,000 or less from a building permit, and state guidance says the roofing exemption covers replacing the roof plus up to 15% of the existing roof deck. Work over $40,000, structural work, or adding roofing rather than replacing it needs a permit. Central Permitting can confirm for your property.

Who issues building permits in Bolivia?

Brunswick County. The county's jurisdictions table lists building inspection for Bolivia as a county job, handled by Code Administration and its Central Permitting division.

What if more of the decking is damaged than expected?

State guidance ties the roofing exemption to replacing up to 15% of the total existing roof deck. Settle up front how extra decking is priced and approved. If the work goes past what the exemption covers, a permit may be needed.

Who gets the permit if one is needed?

We do. When a permit is required, we get it.

Is the inspection free?

Yes. The inspection and estimate are free.