FAQs

To report abandoned vehicles, contact Catawba County Code Enforcement.

The Adult Health Clinic provides a variety of confidential health and education services in an atmosphere that is welcoming and understanding for all. Services are available for individuals from puberty on, and include family planning, breast and cervical cancer screening, and testing, diagnosis, treatment and counseling for sexually-transmitted infections. Most services are provided on a sliding fee scale and are available to everyone, no matter which county they live in.

Clinic hours are Tuesday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Make an appointment and determine eligibility by calling (828) 695-4445 or request an appointment here. Interpreters are available. Get more info HERE.

Adult Protective Services receives and investigates reports of suspected abuse, neglect, or exploitation, of a disabled adult (ages 18 and older). If you are reporting adult abuse or neglect, we will need the person’s name, address or location, caretaker information, type of incapacity, and if anyone is able and willing to access services. Learn more at HERE.

See bid notices, requests, and advertisements HERE.

Located at 1175 South Brady Avenue in Newton, this building consolidates all agricultural-related agencies: Cooperative Extension Service, NC Forest Service, and Catawba Soil and Water Conservation District.

The County contracts with EMS Management and Consultants (EMSMC) for all ambulance billing. You may pay your bill directly or have EMSMC file for third party reimbursement through Medicare, Medicaid or private insurance. Questions about your ambulance bill? Call our billing company at (800) 814-5339.

Announced in late 2021, Appalachian State University opened its Catawba County campus – App State Hickory – in the fall of 2023. The Hickory campus offers more than 100 undergraduate majors along with a host of on-site student services, including a library, success coaching, career development, and access to student clubs and organizations. Learn more HERE.

The five-member Board of Commissioners represents the residents of Catawba County. Commissioners are elected on an at-large basis to staggered four year terms in even-numbered years. Learn more HERE.

Be part of the governing process by serving on a board or committee. Boards and committees advise local government and provide ongoing input into policies and issues affecting the future of the County.

Catawba County Commissioners appoint members to boards across the county. Board openings and requirements vary for each board. See a list of boards and committees along with their descriptions HERE.

Catawba County requires every description of watercraft other than a seaplane to carry at least one life preserver, life belt, ring buoy, etc., as prescribed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission for each person on board on all lakes in Catawba County. All persons operating vessels on Catawba County lakes must stop for a blue light or siren exhibited by any law enforcement officer during the performance of duties. Motorboats must be equipped with an efficient muffler, underwater exhaust or other device which at all times adequately muffles or suppresses the sound of the motor exhaust and motors cannot be equipped with a cutout. The County's noise ordinance also prohibits loud, disturbing and unnecessary noises. Contact the Sheriff’s Office Lake Patrol for more information.

Building inspections are administered by Building Services. Permits are required for general construction, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing. A permit is required for moving a structure, for placement of a manufactured home, remodeling, swimming pool, accessory structure, deck, and for demolition of buildings. The department’s jurisdiction covers all areas of the County. Applications for permits may be made online through the ePermits system or in person at the Catawba County Permit Center.

There are regulations and permit requirements for open burning. For information, contact the NC Forest Service at (828) 465-8443 or Catawba County Office of the Fire Marshal.

Ordinances regarding chickens on residential property varies depending on property location. Contact Catawba County Planning at (828) 465-8380 for guidance.

The County’s human resources agencies provide services in many areas for children. Catawba County Public Health provides immunizations, nutrition counseling, dental health screening, school health services, and nurse follow up and/or referral. For information on adoption, day care, child abuse, delinquency prevention programs, conventional and specialized foster care, work permits for minors, and child support services, contact Catawba County Social Services.

Child Protective Services receives and investigates reports of suspected child abuse or neglect in Catawba County. In North Carolina, protective services are provided by the local department of social services for children from birth to age 18 who are suspected of being abused or neglected by a parent or caretaker. Learn more HERE.

The Local Code Compliance Division assists the citizens and property owners of Catawba County with out of compliance issues related to Erosion Control, Junk Vehicles, Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), Solid Waste Management, and Solid Waste Franchise. Learn more HERE.

See our Code of Ordinances HERE.

The Catawba County Community Alert System provides an emergency notification system that contacts citizens by phone, text, and e-mail when there is a public safety emergency affecting their neighborhood. Emergency messages may include alerts regarding hazardous material spills, acts of terrorism, major fires, floods and other emergencies. Urgent messages from municipal officials may include notifications about utility service interruptions, public water contamination, or major traffic disruptions. The message would include information and instructions about where to go, what to do, and contact numbers for further assistance. People who live, work or go to school in Catawba County are encouraged to register their mobile devices and landlines here.

Catawba Valley Community College, a member of the North Carolina Community College System, offers a variety of educational opportunities to the residents of Catawba County including, one- and two-year vocational programs, a two-year college transfer program and continuing education programs that include Graduate Equivalent Degree (GED), Adult Basic Education (ABE), and English as a second language training. CVCC is located on Highway 70, SE in Hickory.

Coordinated by the Catawba County Sheriff’s Office, Community Watch is a crime prevention program that involves citizens working with each other and law enforcement agencies to reduce crime in their communities.

Catawba County offers five (5) Convenience Centers located throughout the County for solid waste disposal and recycling opportunities. To view a map of Convenience Center locations, Click Here. The centers are operated as part of the franchise agreement with Republic Services. For questions regarding the Convenience Centers, please call Republic Services at 828-256-2158.

A Convenience Center is a drop-off location where citizens who don't have curbside pickup can bring their trash or any items that can't be picked up by their regular trash service. The Convenience Centers are all staffed by an attendant who will be there to assist you with sorting your waste and pricing your drop-off. Prices vary and may be charged by the bag or by the size of your truck or trailer load.

Get more info HERE.

The County Manager’s Office is responsible for implementing the directives of the Board of Commissioners in accordance with North Carolina General Statutes through the strategic management of County government departments, services, and partnerships. Learn more HERE.

Training in hands-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), a heart-lung lifesaving technique, is available through Emergency Medical Services. For more information, contact Emergency Medical Services at 465-8473. For CPR certification classes, contact Catawba Valley Community College (CVCC) at 327-7000.

Click HERE to learn about death records and how to obtain them.

It is unlawful, from one-half hour after sunset until one-half hour before sunrise, to intentionally shine a light upon a deer or intentionally sweep a light in search of deer anywhere in Catawba County. For further information, contact the Sheriff’s Department at 464-5241.

Kintegra Family Dentistry, which is operated by Kintegra Health and located inside the Catawba County Public Health building, focuses on prevention of dental disease specifically for children and pregnant mothers. The practice provides complete examinations and a wide range of treatment and educational services for children ages 1-21 with Medicaid and NC HealthChoice dental insurance, as well as self-pay patients. The practice also provides services to pregnant women with Medicaid coverage.

The clinic is open Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. To make an appointment or determine eligibility, call (828) 695-5778. Interpreters are available.

The NC Food and Nutrition Services Program, which is administered locally by Catawba County Social Services, is designed to promote the general welfare and to safeguard the health and well-being of the nation's population by raising the levels of nutrition among low-income households. Learn more HERE.

The Catawba County EDC provides management and technical assistance to existing local business and industry and attracts industry to the County in order to support and diversify the local economy. The EDC is funded primarily by the County with support and cooperation of the municipalities. The EDC is located at the Hickory Metro Convention Center in Hickory.

There are three K-12 public school systems in Catawba County: Catawba County Schools, Hickory City Schools, and Newton-Conover City Schools. Each school system is governed by its own Board of Education. Higher education opportunities are offered on the local campuses of Catawba Valley Community College, Lenoir-Rhyne University, and Appalachian State University.

Catawba County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provides a full array of pre-hospital medical care including advanced life support, basic life support, specialty care transports, non-emergency transports, and a number of specialty teams. Our mission is to assure each citizen and visitor receives prompt emergency response and the highest quality of pre-hospital care available. Learn more HERE.

It is illegal in Catawba County to possess a dangerous exotic animal. This includes any member of the dog or cat family not customarily domesticated, any member of the bear family, primates, or elephants.

It is also illegal to harbor inherently dangerous reptiles including rear-fanged snakes, any venomous reptile, or members of the crocodile family. To learn more, read the County’s ordinance on dangerous exotic animals.

The Catawba County Public Health Farmers Market operates on Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. from June through September and offers local, in-season season fresh fruits, vegetables, and more. Our goal is to improve individual and community health by increasing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. Cash, debit, EBT/SNAP, WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program benefits are accepted.

The market is located in the front parking lot of Catawba County Public Health off Fairgrove Church Road, behind Catawba Valley Medical Center. Parking is free and plentiful in the Public Health parking lot. The market is also accessible through Greenway Public Transportation, which makes stops across the street throughout the day.

Become a Vendor: If you’re interested in becoming a vendor or would like information about WIC certification for our market, call (828) 695-5800 and ask for the Farmers Market Manager.

For repair of fire hydrants in the unincorporated areas of the County, call the Communications Center at 464-3112.

Fire and Rescue works within four core service areas to meet the needs of the community, customers, and the county’s fire departments:

• Building Plans Review
• Fire Inspections
• Fire Investigation
• Fire Education​

Fire and Rescue serves 14 fire departments and 4 rescue squads that operate in Catawba County. Learn more HERE.

State law requires organizations and businesses to get a permit from the Fire Marshal and approval from the Board of Commissioners prior to having a fireworks display for public exhibition. Contact the Catawba County Fire Marshal for more information.

Catawba County Forest Rangers, employees of the North Carolina Forest Service, assist in forest management and fire control. They will assist private landowners in properly managing forest lands, offering recommendations on tree planting, and helping to find markets for timber, etc. The Forest Rangers should be contacted for regulations and permits for burning of yard waste, leaves, and other natural vegetation.

For information on forestlands, contact the forest rangers at 465-8443. Their office is located in the Agricultural Resources Center, 1175 South Brady Avenue, in Newton. For information on burning, contact the ranger’s office at 465-8443 or the Catawba County Fire Marshal at 465-8237.

Each town and city provides residential trash collection and weekly curbside recycling services. Republic Services, under franchise to the County, offers weekly trash collection and curbside recycling to all homes in the County not served by a municipality. Cities and towns provide different levels of commercial waste collection services. For information on recycling and conservation programs, call Republic Services at 256-2158 or Catawba County’s Recycling Coordinator at 465-8217.

The purchase of a handgun is allowed for purposes of home protection, gun collections, and target practice. Citizens wishing to purchase a handgun must be issued a permit by the Sheriff’s Department. Learn more about Gun Permits.

It is unlawful to discharge or fire any pistol, shotgun, rifle, or other firearm of any description whatsoever on, or from any public street or highway, or the rights-of-way thereof in Catawba County (Chapter 350, 1967 Session Laws).

County ordinance prohibits the use of firearms to terrorize, or to annoy and endanger others, punishable by fine or imprisonment.

For further information or to learn more about concealed handgun permits, contact the Sheriff’s Office at 464-5241.

Hazardous Household Waste can be disposed of at the Blackburn Landfill. Click HERE to get more info. In addition, Hazardous Household Waste Collection Events are held twice a year. The Spring event is held at L.P. Frans Stadium (home of the Hickory Crawdads) in May. The Fall event is held at the American Legion Fairgrounds in Hickory in November.

For technical assistance and general information, contact the Historical Association of Catawba County.

It is against the law to keep hogs, swine, or pigs within a radius of 200 feet of a building that is frequently occupied by humans, except for lands owned by hog owners. For further information, contact the Sheriff’s Department at 464-5241.

Click HERE for Catawba County Government holiday closures.

Catawba Valley Medical Center is the region’s largest not-for-profit community hospital with 256 licensed beds, Catawba Valley Medical Center exists to heal and comfort patients, to promote and foster a healthier community, and to ensure access to healthcare to all who need it - regardless of ability to pay. With a wide array of medical specialties, our skilled nurses and providers are trained to treat virtually any type of injury or illness, providing high-quality, easily accessible healthcare close to home. The medical center has been named a Top 100 Hospital in the U.S. for Patient Experience and is one component of the overall Catawba Valley Health System, which also comprises the Catawba Valley Medical Group with 20 primary and specialty practices, the Catawba Medical Foundation, and Catawba Valley Corporate Health. We are accredited by The Joint Commission and our mission is: Exceptional Healthcare. Every Person. Every Time.

Immunizations are preventive measures taken to protect people from diseases throughout their lives. Catawba County Public Health’s Immunization Clinic offers all required immunizations for children ages 2 months to 18 years, as well as vaccines for adults. This includes flu shots and vaccines recommended for foreign travel. Some vaccines may require payment, depending on eligibility.

The Immunization Clinic is normally open Mondays from 1-4 p.m., Tuesdays from 8-11 a.m., and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m. To check eligibility or to confirm vaccine cost or availability, call (828) 695-5881.

More info HERE.

For general information on County government, call the Public Information Office at 465‑8464.

Catawba County is committed to fostering career development through internship experiences to as many students as possible. Internship opportunities are available on a limited basis in most County departments throughout the year. Learn more HERE.

Visit our Human Resources page to learn more about our organization and current employment opportunities.

Visit the Real Estate section of the Register of Deeds pages for information about land records.

Catawba County owns and operates a subtitle D permitted landfill for Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction & Demolition Waste (C&D), located at the Blackburn Resource Recovery Facility (Blackburn Landfill). The Landfill also operates a Treatment and Processing Site where three different categories of wood/yard waste materials are received and ground into either compost or mulch, available for purchase at any time during operating hours. Get more info HERE.

County tax maps and copies of specialized maps, including topography and aerial photos, may be purchased through the GIS department. Learn more HERE.

Marriage licenses will be handled in-person at the Register of Deeds by appointment only during regular business hours. Appointments can be made by calling (828) 465-1573. Prior to making an appointment, it is required that all marriage applications be submitted online. Get all of the details HERE.

Traditional Meals on Wheels and Frozen Meals are available to any person living in Catawba County who is 60 or older, homebound and who has no member of the household who is able or willing to shop for or prepare meals. There are no income requirements to participate, and there is no cost to recipients (although donations are accepted). Learn more HERE.

Partners Health Management provides referrals and oversight of private sector mental health services for citizens of Catawba County. For more information, call 877-327-2593.

The noise ordinance regulates the production or emission of noises or amplified speech, music, or other sounds that tend to annoy, disturb, or affect the health and well-being of the residents of the county. For more information, contact the Sheriff's Office at 464-5241.

If you have lost or found a pet, click HERE to learn what to do.

The Catawba County Planning Board, a twelve-member appointed body, is responsible for guiding growth and development in the county. The Planning Board is supported by a technical planning staff. The Board's work includes preparation and amendment of the County's land development regulations such as zoning and subdivision ordinances; making recommendations to the Board of Commissioners on requests for zoning changes; approval of the subdivision of land and its improvements. The Board also conducts long range planning studies. Learn more HERE.

Catawba Valley Medical Center’s Regional Poison Control Center offers continuous 24-hour information services by a registered pharmacist on antidotes from all forms of poisons and advice on pursuing medical treatment. To contact the Poison Control Center, call 828-322-6649 or dial 911 in an emergency.

To help assure a seamless medical home for prenatal patients, the prenatal clinic at Catawba County Public Health is operated by Catawba Valley Medical Center Maternity Services. Catawba Valley Medical Center Maternity Services provides comprehensive prenatal care to women, including pregnant women with high-risk medical conditions. Regardless of citizenship status, women at any stage of pregnancy who require prenatal care are welcome, including transfer patients. Medicaid, private insurance, and self-pay are accepted. Assistance to apply for Medicaid is also available.

The clinic operates Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. To make an appointment or find out about eligibility, call (828) 466-7196. Interpreters are available.

All dogs and cats four months of age or older must be vaccinated for rabies by a licensed veterinarian and display a valid rabies tag. For further information, contact Animal Control at 464-7686.

Recycling and Waste Reduction manages Catawba County's residential curbside program for residents living in the unincorporated areas of the county and provides environmental education, materials, presentations and tours to school systems, business community, civic organizations, and the general public.. It offers a free and voluntary Commercial Recycling & Waste Reduction Partnership Program to all businesses within the county. Learn more HERE.

The Food, Lodging and Institution section of Environmental Health is responsible for permitting and inspecting restaurants, food stands, mobile food units, pushcarts, meat markets, elderly nutrition sites, school lunchrooms, school buildings, lodging places, bed and breakfast places, hospitals, rest and nursing homes, child and adult day care, residential care, jails, boarding schools, orphanages, swimming pools, spas, summer camps and tattoo parlors. Learn about their processes and search scores HERE.

Roads in unincorporated areas of the County, excluding private roads, are under the jurisdiction of the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Seniors Morning Out is a half-day program for persons 60 or older who live in Catawba County. The program operates Monday through Thursday except for holidays and inclement weather. There are no income requirements to participate. This service is free to participants, however, donations are accepted. Learn more HERE.

Catawba County Emergency Management maintains a registry of people dealing with disabilities, functional needs, intellectual and developmental disabilities so they can be located and assisted quickly in a disaster. Individuals, families and caregivers are encouraged to plan for where they will go and what they will do in an emergency if their home is damaged or they have to evacuate or the power is out for an extended time. Information about the Catawba County Special Needs Registry is available by calling (828) 465-8230.

The Catawba County Street Improvement Program assists property owners with improvements to public streets in their neighborhoods and transferring them to NCDOT’s Secondary Road Maintenance System. The County manages the construction project and bills the cost back to affected property owners through a special assessment similar to a tax assessment. The program is facilitated by Catawba County Utilities & Engineering following North Carolina statutes. Learn more HERE.

Catawba County Veteran Services assists veterans and their dependents in filing claims with the Veterans Administration for benefits and service. The Veteran Services office is located inside the Emergency Services entrance of the Catawba County Justice Center. Learn more HERE.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a supplemental healthy food program funded by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) for infants and children up to age five, and pregnant, postpartum and breastfeeding women. Learn more HERE.