Buncombe County Jail Annex Inmate Bail & Bonds
Buncombe County bail help for families in Asheville and Weaverville
Buncombe County is home to Asheville, the largest city in western North Carolina. From Asheville, Black Mountain, Weaverville, Woodfin, Montreat, Biltmore Forest, Swannanoa, Candler, Leicester, Arden, Fletcher area, Fairview, and Enka, Buncombe arrestees are booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility, 20 Davidson Drive, Asheville, NC 28801. Phone: (828) 250-4570. Inmate search: Buncombe County Inmate Search.
1. Where is the Buncombe County Detention Facility?
It is at 20 Davidson Drive in downtown Asheville, behind the courthouse, (828) 250-4570. The Buncombe lockup is rated for 604 people.
2. Does Buncombe County have a pretrial release program?
Buncombe County uses a pretrial services program for some defendants. A judge may order custody release to that program, which supervises people in the community instead of requiring money. Ask the defense lawyer at the first appearance if the person could be referred.
3. Judge or magistrate: who sets Buncombe bonds?
In Asheville, the Buncombe magistrate usually does. After a Candler arrest, police see Asheville's magistrate (NC law, G.S. 15A-511; NC law, G.S. 15A-532). Buncombe must have at least 15 magistrates (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). Meanwhile, the Fairview detainee waits at the Buncombe County Detention Facility. The Asheville clerk or the Buncombe judge can also act in Buncombe.
4. What release options does the Asheville magistrate have?
A Buncombe County magistrate has four Asheville choices (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part a).
• With custody release, a Buncombe program supervises. Your Buncombe family member can choose an Asheville secured bond instead.
• An unsecured bond in Asheville needs no cash now. Miss Buncombe court, and your Asheville loved one owes it.
• House arrest keeps your Asheville loved one home in Swannanoa. Buncombe adds a secured bond.
• A Buncombe secured bond uses cash, land, or an Asheville surety.
Since December 1, 2025, Buncombe can't use a written promise alone.
5. When does a Buncombe magistrate require a secured bond?
Non-violent Asheville cases begin with no-money options in Buncombe (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b).
Buncombe flight risks change that in Asheville. A Buncombe County magistrate also weighs threats to Buncombe witnesses. The Asheville magistrate weighs harm risks too.
Three Buncombe Class 1 convictions in 10 years? Buncombe then requires a secured bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b). On probation, a new Asheville felony brings a Buncombe danger review (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d2).
6. Who guides bond amounts for Buncombe County?
Asheville has no set Buncombe price list. District 40's senior judge writes Buncombe's policy (NC law, G.S. 15A-535). The Buncombe chief district judge is consulted too. The Asheville magistrate uses Buncombe's suggested amounts.
The Buncombe magistrate weighs the charge and record (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part c). Ties to Leicester help. Past no-shows hurt a Buncombe defendant.
A first minor Asheville charge often gets an unsecured Buncombe bond. In Asheville, misdemeanor bonds may reach thousands in Buncombe. Gun charges in Asheville run higher in Buncombe. Felony bonds in Buncombe often start in the thousands in Asheville.
7. How can I pay a Buncombe County bond?
The Buncombe magistrate takes Buncombe bonds. With no official present, the Buncombe County Detention Facility can accept it (NC law, G.S. 15A-537). Call (828) 250-4570 first.
Buncombe takes cash, land, or an Asheville surety (NC law, G.S. 15A-531). A Buncombe surety may be an Asheville bail agent. Unpaid Black Mountain sureties must own enough Buncombe property.
A Buncombe bondsman may charge up to 15% (NC law, G.S. 58-71-95). Asheville officers can't sign as Buncombe sureties, except for family (NC law, G.S. 15A-541). Collateral reaches families in Leicester within 15 days. Check an Asheville bondsman with the NC Department of Insurance bondsman lookup.
8. Which Buncombe charges need an Asheville judge?
Only a Buncombe County judge decides release for these Buncombe charges (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part b and c): assault with a deadly weapon with intent to kill causing serious injury; kidnapping; murder or attempted murder; first-degree arson; human trafficking; first-degree burglary; shooting into an occupied building or car; forcible rape and many sex crimes; armed robbery; sex crimes against a child 15 or younger; capital crimes.
An Asheville judge presumes no Asheville terms work. Still, an Asheville judge may allow Asheville release. Some repeat Buncombe gun cases match (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part d through g).
9. What does Iryna's Law mean for Buncombe County?
In Asheville, since December 1, 2025, violent Buncombe charges face a presumption against Asheville release (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part b1). In Asheville, people say Iryna's Law in Buncombe.
Forceful felonies charged in Asheville count in Buncombe (NC law, G.S. 15A-531, part 9). Sex-offender registration felonies count in Asheville. So do Asheville attempts and some Buncombe fentanyl trafficking.
A first violent Buncombe charge needs a secured bond or Asheville monitor. Asheville's magistrate must write reasons (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d). Buncombe defendants charged twice get an Asheville monitor.
10. Why is a Biltmore Forest defendant held after a domestic charge?
At first, only a Buncombe County judge sets domestic terms (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part a). Stalking a Biltmore Forest partner counts in Buncombe. An Asheville 50B order violation counts in Buncombe.
The Buncombe County Detention Facility may hold your Asheville loved one up to 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.1, part b). Then the Asheville magistrate acts in Asheville. Asheville judges often order Buncombe no-contact terms.
11. What other charges in Buncombe County mean a longer wait?
Yes. These apply in Buncombe:
• Buncombe rioting: a Buncombe County judge acts within 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.8).
• Asheville meth cases: Buncombe judges may presume release unsafe (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.6).
• Threatening an Asheville officer: a Buncombe County judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.9).
• Buncombe child victims: Asheville stay-away orders are required (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.4).
• Asheville mass-violence threats: a Buncombe County judge acts within 48 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.7).
• DWI in Buncombe: an impaired Asheville defendant may wait 24 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-534.2).
12. What happens to a Buncombe County bond after a new arrest?
A new Buncombe charge goes to the Buncombe judge (NC law, G.S. 15A-533, part h). Simple Asheville traffic charges don't count in Buncombe. The Buncombe County Detention Facility may hold your Asheville loved one 48 hours. After that, a Buncombe County magistrate steps in for Buncombe.
The Asheville magistrate may double the old Asheville bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d3). A doubled Buncombe bond is $1,000 or more in Asheville. A Buncombe County judge can revoke the old Asheville release for cause (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part f).
13. How do I ask an Asheville judge to lower a bond?
A Buncombe district judge sees the Buncombe defendant within 72 hours (NC law, G.S. 15A-601). If Buncombe courts close long, the Asheville limit is 96 hours. Buncombe may act sooner, at the next Asheville session.
Before that, the Buncombe magistrate can change it in Asheville (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part e). The Buncombe judge may change it at the Asheville hearing.
Buncombe families can ask an Asheville superior judge in writing (NC law, G.S. 15A-538). Buncombe prosecutors may ask too (NC law, G.S. 15A-539).
14. After a missed Asheville court date, what happens to the bond?
A willful Asheville no-show is its own crime in Buncombe (NC law, G.S. 15A-543). Skip a Buncombe felony date, and the new Asheville charge is a Class I felony. On an Asheville misdemeanor, a Buncombe no-show is Class 2.
The Buncombe judge enters a full forfeiture in Buncombe (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.3). Only listed Buncombe reasons work, like Asheville surrender. Notice reaches Asheville families within 30 days (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.4). There are 150 Buncombe days to file in Asheville (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.5).
After 150 days, the Buncombe clerk dockets an Asheville judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-544.6). Picked up again, the Buncombe defendant faces a doubled Buncombe bond (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part d1).
15. Can I get off someone's bond in Asheville?
An Asheville surety can surrender the Woodfin detainee early (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part a). The Buncombe clerk then frees the Asheville surety. Once Buncombe court is missed, an Asheville surety may arrest your Buncombe family member (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part b). The Buncombe magistrate then sets new terms (NC law, G.S. 15A-540, part c).
An Asheville bond normally runs to Buncombe judgment (NC law, G.S. 15A-534, part h). Buncombe dismissal or probation can end it in Asheville.
16. How do Buncombe district and superior courts differ?
Criminal court for Buncombe County is held at the Buncombe County Courthouse, 60 Court Plaza, Asheville.
Buncombe misdemeanors stay in Asheville district court (NC law, G.S. 7A-133). After indictment, Buncombe felonies go to Asheville Superior Court 40 (NC law, G.S. 7A-41). Buncombe prosecutors handle Asheville cases (NC law, G.S. 7A-60).
17. Can Buncombe County give me a court-appointed lawyer?
There is one. The District 40 Public Defender covers Buncombe County: Buncombe County Courthouse, 60 Court Plaza, Asheville, 828-259-3423. Request one at first appearance in Asheville. A Buncombe County judge reviews income (Indigent Defense Services directory).
18. Where does an Asheville teen go after arrest?
Asheville juvenile court handles most Buncombe under-18 cases (NC law, G.S. 7B-1501). Buncombe juveniles face no money bail in Asheville. A Buncombe detention hearing comes within 5 Asheville days (NC law, G.S. 7B-1906). Since 2019, that includes Buncombe 16- and 17-year-olds in Asheville. Some Asheville cases move to Buncombe superior court.
19. Do Buncombe bondsmen work in federal court?
Buncombe falls under the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina (28 U.S.C. 113). Court meets in Asheville, Bryson City, Charlotte, Shelby, and Statesville. The clerk: Charlotte, Charles R. Jonas Federal Building, 401 W. Trade St., 704-350-7400. Buncombe bondsmen don't work there.
20. Who can confirm a Buncombe County bond amount?
Phone the Buncombe County Detention Facility: (828) 250-4570. Have your Buncombe family member's birth date ready for Asheville staff. On weekdays, the Buncombe clerk in Asheville can help.
Buncombe County bail contacts
- Jail
- Buncombe County Detention Facility, 20 Davidson Drive, Asheville, NC 28801; (828) 250-4570
- Courts
- Buncombe County Courthouse, Asheville
- Districts
- District Court 40; Superior Court 40; Prosecutorial 40
- Public defender
- District 40 Public Defender; 828-259-3423
- Inmate search
- Buncombe County Inmate Search
Judges and magistrates set release terms case by case. Nothing here is legal advice.
Paying an Inmate's Bail or Bond in Buncombe County
The Buncombe County Sheriff recommends that you might want to use a bail bond agent licensed to do business in Buncombe County.
However if you don't want to use a bail bond agent:
- You can always pay a cash bond yourself, or use your home in Buncombe County, or in some cases the state of North Carolina, but the benefit of using a bail bond agent is that they take responsibility for making sure the inmate shows up for court in Buncombe County, and if they don't, then they take the financial responsibility.
- The typical fee for a bond in North Carolina is between 10-20% of the bail amount; usually 15% or less. So if an offender has a bail of $10,000.00, their bond will be $1,500.00.
- Pay by cash, cashier's check, money order or credit card at the Buncombe County Jail Annex, or the courthouse in Buncombe County where the offense took place.
Call 828-250-4550 to find out the exact bond (plus other fees) amount, or look it up online by looking up the information on the Buncombe County inmate locator.
Buncombe County Jail Annex
Address:
20 Davidson Drive
Asheville, NC 28801
Phone:
828-250-4550
Frequently Asked Questions about Bail and Bonds in Buncombe County
Does Buncombe County have bail?
What kind of bonds are accepted in Buncombe County?
Who can set bail in Buncombe County?
When is bail set in Buncombe County North Carolina?
Does Buncombe County have bail?
Yes, Buncombe County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Buncombe County?
Buncombe County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Buncombe County?
Bail is determined by a magistrate. Magistrates are persons who are trained in court and legal procedures. A magistrate does not have to be an attorney but helps move the process by performing some of the routine court functions such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail and accepting guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors.
When is bail set in Buncombe County North Carolina?
Bail is determined by a magistrate at your first court appearance. This court appearance, also known as first appearance, usually occurs within 48 hours of arrest.
What is Bail?
Bail is what the arrested in Buncombe County must pay or do to stay out of jail until the first court appearance.
The agreement to bail acts as a promise that the arrested will return to court for court dates and trial. Bail usually refers to a dollar amount, but bail can also mean something that has to be done, or a condition such as reporting to an officer of the court, a curfew, restraining orders or attending a treatment program.
Bail is usually a significant enough amount of money and/or condition that the person will be negatively impacted and has incentive to return to court and not flee. A flight risk usually means that the person would flee the area, and not necessary that they are going to take an airplane.
If a judge in North Carolina feels that the arrested will return to court for further proceedings, the arrested could be released under a conditional release without needing to pay bail money. This is called Released on Own Recognizance, or ROR.
Conditions for ROR might be to obey all court orders and laws, maintain contact with the lawyer, report changes in residence or have no contact with the victim. Family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court.
If the judge or bail schedule determines that the defendant would be a danger to the public if they were released, bail can be denied, and the person will be detained in the Buncombe County Jail Annex until the case is resolved or goes to trial.
Bail can be denied if the defendant did not comply with bail conditions from a previous arrest. Bail is usually denied in cases of violent offenses.
What is the difference between Bail and Bond?
Bail and bond are used interchangeably to mean the same thing but technically, they are different. The bail is the amount to be paid and a bond is a signed document promising payment of the bail amount with certain conditions. Think of a bond as a loan to pay for the bail.
The bond payment is always written to the court in your municipality, Buncombe County or district directly and does not go through the defendant. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
The thought of being in jail can cause the arrested to panic and try to secure a bond immediately.
DO NOT panic and take the time to understand all the options.
More courts are now trying to work with defendants to make bail work and might provide non-monetary options or even reduce the bail.
Payments to a bond company are not refundable. It is a long process to get back property title or money that was given to the clerk of court or bondsperson to secure the bond. This could put your loved ones into a difficult financial situation.
Another reason not to unnecessarily rush into securing a bond is that if the court notes that you came up with the money to pay a bond company, they may assume you have resources to pay a defense attorney and decline public defense.
On the other hand, as anyone who has ever been involved in their criminal defense understands, fighting your case while ‘out on the streets’ gives you a much better chance of either winning, or getting a more favorable sentence.
What are the different types of bonds in Buncombe County?
Based on a review of information from the arrest, the judge or bail officer will determine and notify the accused of which types of bonds are available to them.
To describe the types of bonds, let’s use an example of buying your neighbor’s car. Your neighbor decides the price of the car and how they would be paid.
Similarly, the court (meaning a police or bail officer, clerk of court, bail magistrate or judge) determines the bail amount and how it would be paid.
Here are different options that the seller of the car or the court might consider:
You could pay full asking price for the car in cash. This is similar to paying cash bail. The full amount of bail would be paid to the town or county clerk or at the jail. Cash, cashier’s checks and credit cards are usually accepted.
You could sign an agreement on your own or with another person to pay for the car at a future date knowing that your neighbor would know where to find you if you stopped payment. This would be similar to a cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond which are bonds to where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible for making sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up.
Surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
You can put a deposit down for your neighbor’s car and sign an agreement that the car will be paid off at a later date. Cash percentage in lieu of bonds is when the defendant pays a percentage of the bail amount, usually 10%, to the court which then holds the money until the case is over.
The amount is returned to the person who paid the 10% after the case is over. In most cases, the full amount is not returned if there are court fees or fines due. This is a type of surety bond if another person signs the bond paperwork.
You could sign an agreement that if the car were not paid off, that your neighbor would get your house or something of value.
A property bond is a bond that the courts might consider in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted).
Usually, the property must be in the same state as the courts, and it must be worth at least 1 ½ - 2 times the amount of the bond.
There are multiple court fees involved to execute a property bond with the courts and a tedious process to get the property deed back. This is another type of surety bond if another person or a bond company is used to secure the bond.
You could also go to a local bank and take out a car loan offering property or anything of value for collateral. You may get someone to co-sign on the loan and offer their property. The bank charges fees, interest and could keep your property if you did not pay the loan back, or even on time.
A professional bondsperson makes money, at least 10% of the bond amount by providing you with a “loan” called a bond. The percent that they charge is fixed by the state and cannot be negotiated. The defendant or surety does not get that 10% or more back even if the terms of the bail are met.
With a property bond, the property deed would need to be signed over to the bondsperson and everyone on the deed would need to be involved.
Since the bondsperson signed off, to be responsible that you show to court as your surety, they can send a bounty hunter to bring you to court if you flee. A bondsperson does not have to give you a bond if the defendant seems to be too much of a risk.
Ask the bondsperson to explain all the costs: percentage, fees or court fees. There is never a reason to rush through signing the paperwork with a bond company. Make sure that everything told to you is in writing and that you understand what you are signing. Ask questions, and if you feel rushed or don’t understand the contract with the bond company, you might want to call another one.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsperson will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
Does Buncombe County have bail?
Yes, Buncombe County recognizes most types of bonds.
What kind of bonds are accepted in Buncombe County North Carolina?
Buncombe County recognizes being released own recognizance, unsecured bail, secured bail or surety bonds.
Who can set bail in Buncombe County?
Bail is determined by a magistrate. Magistrates are persons who are trained in court and legal procedures. A magistrate does not have to be an attorney but helps move the process by performing some of the routine court functions such as issuing arrest warrants, setting bail and accepting guilty pleas for minor misdemeanors.
When is bail set in North Carolina?
Bail is determined by a magistrate at your first court appearance. This court appearance, also known as first appearance, usually occurs within 48 hours of arrest.
Can I get the bail or bond reduced in Buncombe County North Carolina?
Yes, your attorney can file a motion for bail reduction.
In Buncombe County North Carolina, who can pay bail for me?
The person posting bail should be a relative or close friend, called a surety, because they are promising and taking responsibility that you will return to court to get their money back.
A surety is not responsible for court fees or paying off personal debts for the defendant. A professional bondsperson who is approved by the State of North Carolina could be the surety and execute a bond to the court on your behalf.
Can bail be paid online in Buncombe County North Carolina?
Yes, North Carolina does offer online bail payment. Please contact the jail for specific information on how to pay bail: Go to the Buncombe County Jail Annex for more information about the jails in Buncombe County.
What options are there to pay bail in Buncombe County North Carolina?
Most all jail and courts accept cash, a cashier or bankers’ check. Some accept a credit card with fees. Please contact the jail for specific information on what methods of payment are accepted: Go to the Buncombe County Jail Annex for more information about posting bail in Buncombe County.
Will I get all my bond money back in North Carolina?
Bail money is returned to the person who paid the bail; in whole or in part once the case is finished. There may be fees, restitution (money to pay for damage caused by the crime) or fines that come out of that amount. If you used a bondsperson, you would not get your 10% back. Property is returned by the court or bondsperson after the appropriate requests and formal paperwork are completed with the court.
Can I get bail or a bond with no money down in Buncombe County?
The judge or officer who sets bail determines which kind of bail will be an option for you, but a cash bond and PR bonds usually do not require cash down, though you might have to pay court fees.
A cash bond or a personal recognizance (PR) bond are bonds where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the bail amount if the defendant does not show up to court. There is no money due up front.
If the defendant does not show up, the full amount of the bail will be due to the court and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court and the court will send the sheriff’s department to arrest you.
Cash bonds and PR bonds are types of unsecured bonds because you are not securing it with any money down. In bond terms, a surety is a person who will be responsible to make sure that you will show to court and will be responsible to pay the bond if the arrested person does not show up. A surety can be family, friend or a bondsperson. Your attorney cannot act as a surety.
What are the least expensive and affordable bail bonds in North Carolina?
The Buncombe County Jail Annex or court in this jurisdiction can provide you with a list of approved and licensed bond companies, but they cannot recommend a specific company. You are not obligated to use the first company available and can call several companies to compare what kind of bonds that the bondsperson is willing to execute.
The percentage of bail that the bond company can charge is set, usually at 10%, by the state and cannot be negotiated.