Under the Catawba County Building Services Fee Schedule, the County provides owners of new construction with a rebate off of blanket permit fees if the structures achieve certification in a designated green building program. Catawba County, North Carolina, is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains which provide moderate winter temperatures and summer breezes. The County covers 405 square miles, consisting of 8 municipalities and an estimated population of over 150,000 inhabitants.

Under the fee schedule new structures are eligible for a 25% rebate from fees for meeting 1 of 5 different energy efficiency certifications. The five different energy certifications are: 1) USGBC Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) Certification; 2) NC Healthy Built Home Certification; 3) USEPA Energy Star Certification; 4) National Association of Home Building (NAHB) Model Green Building Home Guideline Certification; 5) International Code Council (ICC)/NAHB National Green Building Standard Certification. Owners of existing structures can obtain a 50% rebate off permit fees for the installation of energy and water efficient systems.

Additionally, developers of new commercial buildings can receive a 50% rebate on plan review fees, once a third party inspection upon completion results in a finding that the structure fulfills the requirements for LEED Certification, Energy Star, and/or NC Healthy Built Homes.