Norwich joined Charlton in League One after crashing to a 4-2 defeat.
A win and Barnsley losing at Plymouth would have kept the Canaries up but they were three down within 30 minutes.
Nick Bailey headed Charlton ahead, Deon Burton tapped in a rebound and diverted home Bailey's cross, before Alan Lee nodded one back late in stoppage time.
Burton completed his hat-trick, Sammy Clingan fired a free-kick for 4-2, but Norwich slipped into the third league tier for the first time since 1960.
These two sides were playing in the top flight only four years ago.
Norwich were top of the table for much of the Premier League's first season in 1992-93 and beat Bayern Munich away the following term.
They would have been hopeful of a dramatic escape against a Charlton side already relegated and condemned to the third tier for the the first time since 1981, who had won only four of 30 games under Phil Parkinson.
Charlton manager Phil Parkinson:
"If I'm not here next season I'll walk away with my head held high.
"The club has had a lot of instability. If the board, or any new owners, want to start again I think that will be a big risk."
Norwich boss Bryan Gunn told BBC Radio Norfolk:
"Over the course of 90 minutes, I feel very let down.
"I didn't expect that level of performance from the players on such an important day, performances like that are the reason we've been relegated.
"I've told the players to go away and look at themselves in the mirror, the ones that want to be at this club next season will hopefully come and knock on my door, look me in the eye and say they want to play in League One next season.
"I want the job even more now because it's my fault we've been relegated, I'm big enough as a person to take that on my shoulders, hopefully I'll be given the chance to move the club forward."
Charlton: Elliot, Butterfield, Hudson, Ward (Solly 14), Youga, Sam (Tuna 83), Zhi (Wagstaff 71), Racon, Bailey, Shelvey, Burton.
Subs Not Used: Randolph, Kandol.
Booked: Shelvey, Youga.
Goals: Bailey 9, Burton 25, 30, 51.
Norwich: Marshall, Otsemobor, Doherty, Leijer (McDonald 40), Shackell, Smith, Russell, Clingan, Lappin, Lee, Mooney.
Subs Not Used: Nelson, Cureton, Carney, Gow.
Booked: Lappin, Shackell.
Goals: Lee 45, Clingan 61.
Att: 22,020
Ref: Russell Booth (Nottinghamshire).
www.bbc.co.uk
