How to respond to Mecklenburg County’s redlined plans

What Mecklenburg County calls its correction letter, how to resubmit, and what to include, from the city’s own pages. Each fact links to its source.

What Mecklenburg County calls it

Mecklenburg County calls its correction letter “redlined plans”.

Source: code.mecknc.gov

How to resubmit after Mecklenburg County plan check corrections

1. If the plans have code deficiencies when the review cycle closes, the system emails the permit applicant and the project designer that revised plans are required, with a link to upload them.
2. The same link lets the project designer open the redlined plans that identify the corrections needed.
3. Upload the revised plans through that link; plans and documents must be PDFs, with the plans compiled into one PDF of 40MB or less.
4. Projects reviewed three or more cycles in the building discipline incur an hourly review fee of $145.00.
5. Once the plans are approved the permits are issued, and the approved plans are in the contractor's account under the permit.

From the city’s instructions: code.mecknc.gov

What to include

• All plans and documents in PDF; the plans compiled into one PDF of 40MB or less
• Drawings legible, landscape and to scale: 17x11 minimum for projects over 500 sq. ft., 8 1/2x11 for projects under 500 sq. ft.
• Designer, architect or engineer name, address and contact information on the drawings
• Heated and unheated square footage of each story, and a project total
• Sheets named with CAD standard naming (A-1.0, S-2.1) and bookmarked by page
• Supporting documents as separate attachments

From the city’s instructions: code.mecknc.gov

Codes its letters cite

Building code named on the city’s pages: 2018 North Carolina State Building Code.

Source: ncosfm.gov

Local amendments to the building code

The North Carolina State Building Code applies statewide and local governments cannot amend it, except local fire-prevention rules that the state Code Council has signed off.

Source: ncleg.gov

Official links

• Resubmittal instructions
• Building department page

Links and facts checked on October 31, 2026.

North Carolina rules every plan check here follows

These come from North Carolina law and state agencies, so they apply in Mecklenburg County as well. Each links to its source.

Code for homes

The 2018 North Carolina Residential Code has applied since January 1, 2019.

Source: NC Office of State Fire Marshal, checked October 31, 2026

Other building codes

The 2018 North Carolina building, energy, fire, mechanical and plumbing codes have applied since January 1, 2019.

Source: NC Office of State Fire Marshal, checked October 31, 2026

The 2024 code is not in force yet

The 2024 North Carolina State Building Code starts 12 months after the State Fire Marshal certifies that set steps are done, so check the date before you design to it.

Source: NC State Fire Marshal letter on the 2024 code, checked October 31, 2026

What a good response to redlined plans has

General guidance, not Mecklenburg County’s own rules. Check its page before you resubmit.

• Answer every comment, in the reviewer’s order and numbering, so nothing is missed.
• Say plainly what you changed for each comment, or why no change is needed.
• Name the sheet and detail where each change is, so the reviewer can find it fast.
• Mark changes on the drawings (clouds or deltas are common) and keep sheet numbers the same.
• Send the response letter, the revised drawings and any new calculations together.

Other North Carolina city guides

• City of Charlotte
• McDowell County
• Town of Mills River

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