City Building Permits
Town of Cary, NC - 2026 Building Permit Guide
How to apply for a building permit in Town of Cary, North Carolina. Permit authority, application steps, fees, and inspection requirements.
Permit Authority
Town of Cary handles permits and inspections in Cary jurisdiction and utility-served areas described in its fee and permit guides.
- Department
- Inspections and Permits Department, Town of Cary
- Address
- 316 N. Academy Street, Cary, NC 27513
- Phone
- 919-469-4000
Online Permit Portal
Platform: Cary Online Permit Portal / Electronic Review Center • Account required: Yes • Submission: In-person only
Additional resources:
Application Process
- Review the applicable residential or commercial plan-submittal guide and fee estimation guide.
- Prepare complete plans and supporting forms for the project scope.
- Submit the permit package online through Cary's portal.
- Staff reviews for completeness and code compliance; incomplete plans may not be accepted.
- Pay permit and development fees when or before permit issuance.
- Receive permit issuance and schedule inspections.
General Requirements
Required for new buildings, additions, alterations, accessory structures, and trade work regulated by the NC code and Cary permit rules.
Required Documents
- Application
- Full plans drawn to scale
- Site/civil information as applicable
- Contractor information
- Discipline-specific documents listed in Cary submittal guides
- Building code
- 2018 NC State Building Code family with NC amendments; Cary's 2025 commercial guide expressly says plans are reviewed using the 2018 edition
- Owner-builder
- Owner applicants may apply where allowed, but trade and code compliance requirements still apply.
- Contractor requirements
- NC general contractor license generally required at $40,000 or more; licensed trade contractors required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.
Fees
- Minimum permit fee
- Residential new or relocated dwelling/addition $200 minimum; residential alteration $100 minimum; each residential trade permit $100 minimum; nonresidential new/addition $200 minimum; nonresidential trade permit $100 minimum
- Plan check fee
- Embedded in permit processing structure; not broken out as a separate universal percentage in the reviewed fee guide
- Permit fee formula
- Square-footage based for core building permits, plus utility/development/transportation fees where applicable
- Reinspection fee
- Verify current approved budget and inspections page for current ancillary fees
- Payment note
- Building permit, development, and water/sewer related fees are collected when or before permit issuance
Fees change. Verify current amounts at the official fee schedule.
Work That Does NOT Require a Permit
Contact the Inspections and Permits Department, Town of Cary to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.
Inspections
How to Schedule
- Cary's permit system (online)
Typical inspection sequence: Typical sequence: Foundation, slab/under-slab, rough framing and rough trades, insulation, finals, and closeout.
Additional Resources
- Building code: 2018 NC State Building Code family with NC amendments; Cary's 2025 commercial guide expressly says plans are reviewed using the 2018 edition
- Zoning information: View zoning info
- Permits Main Page
- Plan Submittal Guide
- Fee Schedule
- License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
- Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
- North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub
Information on this page was last verified: March 2026. Permit rules and fees change — confirm current requirements directly with the Inspections and Permits Department, Town of Cary before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Town of Cary Building Permit FAQ
- Do I need a building permit in Town of Cary, NC?
- Required for new buildings, additions, alterations, accessory structures, and trade work regulated by the NC code and Cary permit rules.
- How much does a building permit cost in Town of Cary, NC?
- The minimum permit fee is Residential new or relocated dwelling/addition $200 minimum; residential alteration $100 minimum; each residential trade permit $100 minimum; nonresidential new/addition $200 minimum; nonresidential trade permit $100 minimum. Fees are calculated as: Square-footage based for core building permits, plus utility/development/transportation fees where applicable. Plan check fee: Embedded in permit processing structure; not broken out as a separate universal percentage in the reviewed fee guide.
- How do I apply for a building permit in Town of Cary, NC?
- 1. Review the applicable residential or commercial plan-submittal guide and fee estimation guide. 2. Prepare complete plans and supporting forms for the project scope. 3. Submit the permit package online through Cary's portal. 4. Staff reviews for completeness and code compliance; incomplete plans may not be accepted. 5. Pay permit and development fees when or before permit issuance. 6. Receive permit issuance and schedule inspections.
- How do I schedule a building inspection in Town of Cary, NC?
- Inspections can be scheduled via: Cary's permit system.
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