Development Assistance Center

(828) 323-7410

The City of Hickory has established the Development Assistance Center to assist you in approval of construction and development projects. The Center is meant to help you understand and aid you in gathering the documentation you will need for your permit application. Also, included with the Development Assistance Center is the Zoning Enforcement Division.  The two member staff investigates situations involving compliance with areas of the City’s Land Development Code. They also accompany other departments and agencies to inspect new or renovated properties for effective installation of signs, landscaping and screening to protect adjacent properties.

The Development Assistance Center (DAC) is located on the first floor of the Julian G. Whitener Municipal Building. The D.A.C. is a division of the Planning Department and is located along with the Catawba County Permit Center office. This will enhance the ability to provide “one stop shopping” or same day issuance for conventional single family dwelling* permits. In addition, coordination of commercial development and occupancy of existing buildings are handled through this division. The goal here is to provide a more fluid process for plan submittal and permit issuance that is customer oriented.

The D.A.C. staff will assist you in filling out the required applications, and will insure that all necessary plans and specifications are included with the applications. In addition, the D.A.C. staff can help direct you to the appropriate person if you have technical questions they cannot answer.

Gene Frye, D.A.C. Manager, is responsible for the overall operations of the Center and is available at any time to assist you. Please contact him if you have any questions. The Development Assistance Center is committed to good customer services, so please don’t hesitate to call. The telephone number is (828) 323-7410.

*Conventional Single Family Dwellings (CSFD) – These are single-family dwelling units that DO require reviews by the DAC. Dwellings located in the flood plain, historic district or townhouses cannot be issued by the one stop process due to additional zoning & building inspection requirements.

D.A.C. Overview Manual - (Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader)
Single Family Residences
Commercial Development
Occupancy of Existing Buildings
Landscaping
Signs
Temporary (Snipe) Signs
Special Events Information
Permit Applications and Links