If you’re building in Brunswick County, it's good to know that delays can come from paperwork, revisions, and incomplete plan sets. The fastest way to keep your build schedule intact? Start with truly permit-ready plans in Brunswick County — not “almost ready,” not conceptual, and not missing engineering notes. Below is a practical 30-day timeline you can follow to move from sketch to submission without costly setbacks.
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Brunswick County includes fast-growing areas like:
Each area presents different challenges:
That means your plans must be complete, code-aware, and structured for review the first time.
Goal: Eliminate ambiguity before drafting begins.
✔ Confirm lot details (setbacks, zoning, flood zone)
✔ Confirm heated vs. unheated square footage
✔ Finalize structural system (crawlspace, slab, pilings)
✔ Make a list of must haves and wishes
✔ Collect HOA requirements (if applicable)
✔ Lock in exterior style and roof pitch
Pro Tip: Scope creep during drafting is the #1 cause of delays. Lock decisions early.
Goal: Move from ideas to schematic drawings. Your plans should now include:
✔ Established floor plans
✔ Exterior elevations with height callouts
✔ Roof plan with slopes
✔ Foundation plan
✔ Spaces labeled with broad dimensions
✔ Square footage calculated
✔ Material call outs
This is where many home owners run into trouble — progressing pass this stage with ideas not established means costly revisions in the construction documentation stage.
Goal: Finalize plan documents to include all information necessary to construct.
Depending on project specifics, this may include:
✔ Structural engineering (if required)
✔ Truss specs
✔ Energy compliance documentation
✔ Site plan with setbacks
✔ Dimensioned Drawings
✔ Construction Details
If building near the coast (Ocean Isle, Holden Beach, Southport areas), wind design and uplift details must be clearly documented.
Incomplete documentation = revision cycle.
Revision cycle = 2–3 weeks lost.
Before submitting to Brunswick County inspections:
✔ Double-check square footage totals
✔ Confirm foundation elevations
✔ Verify code references
✔ Confirm any HOA/ ARC requirements are met
✔ Ensure sheets are labeled and organized
✔ Cross-check structural notes against floor plan
A second set of eyes here can save weeks.
Here’s what typically causes review comments:
Home owners often assume “the county will just tell us what’s missing", but every revision cycle pushes your start date.
Permit-ready plans in Brunswick County should be:
Not conceptual.
Not partially drafted.
Not missing sheets.
Whether you’re building in Brunswick County, along the beaches of Oak Isle or Carolina Beach, or closer to Wilmington and Wrightsville Beach, early coastal planning decisions will define your home’s build and overall schedule.
This checklist is made to ease a sometimes burdensome process and align objectives early on between builder and home owners.