Durham, NC - 2026 Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

Shared city-county department providing permit, plan review, and inspection services for the City of Durham and enforces NC State Building Code plus Durham city zoning requirements.

Department

City-County Building & Safety Department

Address

101 City Hall Plaza, Ground Floor, Durham, NC 27701

Phone

919-560-4144

Email

PermitTechnicians@durhamnc.gov

Website

https://www.durhamnc.gov/293/City-County-Building-Safety

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm zoning, historic, floodplain, airport overlay, and other parcel constraints with Planning and Development before submitting.
2. Prepare the permit package: signed building permit application, matching residential or commercial checklist, plans, and required plot plan or site plan documentation.
3. Submit building permit applications through Dplans.
4. Submit trade permits through the Land Development Office portal.
5. Receive email with invoice for application and review fees; pay online through LDO.
6. Respond to review comments and resubmit revised documents if needed.
7. Monitor status in LDO until permit status is issued.
8. After issuance, schedule inspections through LDO and complete required inspection sequence.

Typical processing time: State law requires initial residential plan review within 15 business days. Durham reviews applications in order received. No general posted turnaround for building permit issuance on city website.

Source: City-County Building & Safety Department

General Requirements

Durham requires permits for construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, relocation, removal, or demolition of buildings and for regulated plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work, subject to North Carolina statutory exemptions.

Required Documents

• Completed signed building permit application
• Matching residential or commercial checklist
• Construction plans signed and dated per NC Admin Code 204.3
• Sealed surveyor plot plan or approved site plan documentation
• Lien agent information for projects costing $40,000 or more
• Worker's compensation affidavit or active certificate of insurance for projects costing $40,000 or more
• Durham Appendix B building code summary for commercial work
• Separate trade plan PDFs for commercial projects
• Signed contract, letter of intent, or notice to proceed for commercial projects before issuance

Permit validity

Applications not completed to issued status within 6 months expire. Plan review fees are not refunded when applications are voided after 6 months with no activity.

Building code

2018 North Carolina State Building Code and related technical codes with North Carolina amendments

Owner-builder

Durham publishes Owner Contractor License Exemption Affidavit and Homeowner Acting As Their Own Contractor for Trade Permits forms. Homeowner trade permits require primary residence, deed ownership, personal performance of work, and no rent, lease, or sale within 1 year of completion.

Contractor requirements

Valid North Carolina general contractor license required for projects costing $40,000 or more unless a notarized owner exemption affidavit is provided. NC specialty licensing required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$100-$150

Plan check fee

Plan review fee is subtracted from the building permit fee at issuance. Examples: $146.00 plan review for new one- and two-family dwellings; commercial plan review by valuation tier.

Permit fee formula

Mixed schedule: New one- and two-family dwellings charged by square-foot bracket; commercial building permits valuation-based by schedule tier; many trade permits flat-fee or unit-count based. Example: new residential dwellings up to 1,200 sq ft at $146.00 permit fee plus $146.00 plan review fee.

Trade permit fee

$65.00 minimum electrical; many basic mechanical or plumbing items at $65.00; residential minimum $100.00; commercial minimum $150.00 for permits requiring rough-in inspection

Reinspection fee

Electrical: $100.00 for not ready, $100.00 for 5+ code violations, $100.00 second reinspection, $200.00 third, $300.00 fourth. Plumbing and mechanical: similar $100/$200/$300 ladder.

Penalty (no permit)

Double fee for work begun without permit. 15% of permit cost for permit voiding.

Payment note

Once application is entered in LDO, applicant receives email directing online payment of application or review fee. All applicable review fees must be paid before plan review begins. All permit fee payments and inspection requests made through LDO.

Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

• Construction costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building
• Replacement of windows, doors, exterior siding when exemption criteria are met
• Replacement of pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking of porches and exterior decks when exemption criteria are met
• Like-kind plumbing replacements with no size or capacity change
• Like-kind electrical device and lighting fixture replacements in one- and two-family dwellings when performed by properly licensed contractors
• Certain water heater replacements when performed by properly licensed contractors and statutory conditions are met

Important: The $40,000 exemption does not apply when work involves addition or replacement of load-bearing structures, addition or change in plumbing design, addition or replacement or change in design of HVAC or electrical wiring/devices/equipment, use of non-code materials, addition of roofing (roof replacement excluded), or changes regulated by NC Fire Code. Confirm edge cases with Permit Technicians.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• LDO Portal (online)
• City Hall Lobby (limited internet access assistance) (in-person)

Scheduling deadline

Only permit applicant with login credentials can schedule inspections. Lobby computers available for customers with limited internet access.

Inspection hours

Customer service lobby open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Department office hours 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Time windows

Inspections conducted in next available time slot based on inspection type and site location.

Typical inspection sequence: Residential building: footing, foundation, slab, framing, insulation, final. Electrical: service pole/temporary power, rough-in, floor heat if applicable, final. Plumbing: slab, rough-in, water/sewer/irrigation, final. Mechanical: rough-in, final, duct leakage test if needed.

Additional Resources

• Building code: 2018 North Carolina State Building Code and related technical codes with North Carolina amendments
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Approval Processes and Inspections
• Contact Building Safety
• NC Statute 160D-1110 (Building Permits and Exemptions)
• License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

Durham Building Permit FAQ

Do I need a building permit in Durham, NC?

Durham requires permits for construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, relocation, removal, or demolition of buildings and for regulated plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work, subject to North Carolina statutory exemptions.

How much does a building permit cost in Durham, NC?

The minimum permit fee is $100-$150. Fees are calculated as: Mixed schedule: New one- and two-family dwellings charged by square-foot bracket; commercial building permits valuation-based by schedule tier; many trade permits flat-fee or unit-count based. Example: new residential dwellings up to 1,200 sq ft at $146.00 permit fee plus $146.00 plan review fee.. Plan check fee: Plan review fee is subtracted from the building permit fee at issuance. Examples: $146.00 plan review for new one- and two-family dwellings; commercial plan review by valuation tier..

How do I apply for a building permit in Durham, NC?

1. Confirm zoning, historic, floodplain, airport overlay, and other parcel constraints with Planning and Development before submitting. 2. Prepare the permit package: signed building permit application, matching residential or commercial checklist, plans, and required plot plan or site plan documentation. 3. Submit building permit applications through Dplans. 4. Submit trade permits through the Land Development Office portal. 5. Receive email with invoice for application and review fees; pay online through LDO. 6. Respond to review comments and resubmit revised documents if needed. 7. Monitor status in LDO until permit status is issued. 8. After issuance, schedule inspections through LDO and complete required inspection sequence.

How long does it take to get a building permit in Durham, NC?

Typical processing time is State law requires initial residential plan review within 15 business days. Durham reviews applications in order received. No general posted turnaround for building permit issuance on city website..

What work is exempt from building permits in Durham, NC?

The following work is generally exempt: Construction costing $40,000 or less in a single-family residence, farm building, or commercial building; Replacement of windows, doors, exterior siding when exemption criteria are met; Replacement of pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking of porches and exterior decks when exemption criteria are met; Like-kind plumbing replacements with no size or capacity change; Like-kind electrical device and lighting fixture replacements in one- and two-family dwellings when performed by properly licensed contractors; Certain water heater replacements when performed by properly licensed contractors and statutory conditions are met. Note: The $40,000 exemption does not apply when work involves addition or replacement of load-bearing structures, addition or change in plumbing design, addition or replacement or change in design of HVAC or electrical wiring/devices/equipment, use of non-code materials, addition of roofing (roof replacement excluded), or changes regulated by NC Fire Code. Confirm edge cases with Permit Technicians.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Durham, NC?

Inspections can be scheduled via: LDO Portal, City Hall Lobby (limited internet access assistance). Only permit applicant with login credentials can schedule inspections. Lobby computers available for customers with limited internet access..