Greensboro, NORTH-CAROLINA Building Permit Guide

Permit Authority

City-issued building permits for property within Greensboro corporate limits. Greensboro operates its own plan review, permitting, and inspection program separate from Guilford County.

Department

Engineering and Inspections Department, Building Inspections / Development Services

Address

300 W. Washington Street, Greensboro, NC 27401

Phone

(336) 373-2155

Email

DevelopmentServices2@greensboro-nc.gov

Website

https://www.greensboro-nc.gov/departments/engineering-inspections

Online Permit Portal

Application Process

1. Confirm scope and permit type using Greensboro permit guidance and residential or commercial plan review pages.
2. For projects requiring plan review, prepare PDF plans and required supporting documents. Residential projects needing review must be reviewed and signed by a plans examiner before permit issuance.
3. Submit electronically through Greensboro's Plan Review and Tracking system for newer workflows, or submit in person where Greensboro still directs in-person intake.
4. City staff checks the package for completeness, routes plans for trade review, and returns comments if revisions are needed.
5. Pay permit fees. Greensboro collects building permit fees at submittal for commercial review, and permit payment is required before issuance.
6. Receive permit, post permit card, and schedule inspections through APRIL or the Building Inspections Scheduler.

Typical processing time: Not posted as a universal turnaround. Inspection requests must be made by 8:00 p.m. the previous business day in APRIL.

Source: Engineering and Inspections Department, Building Inspections / Development Services

General Requirements

A building permit is required for work involving construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, moving, removal, or demolition of a building or structure. For residential work, permits are required for all structural work and non-structural work exceeding $15,000. Separate trade permits are required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work.

Required Documents

• Permit application
• Construction plans
• Site plan or plot plan as applicable
• Standard cover sheet and review checklist for plan-review projects
• Workers compensation documentation when applicable
• Ownership or contractor information
• Proof of identity and owner affidavit conditions (for residential owner permits)

Permit validity

Not clearly posted on current public pages; confirm with Development Services.

Building code

NC State Building Code as enforced locally by Greensboro; current statewide enforcement remains the 2018 code with amendments per NC OSFM context.

Owner-builder

Greensboro allows owners to pull permits when they sign an affidavit of ownership and permit terms, the property is not for sale or lease at the time of the request, and the owner will do the work personally.

Contractor requirements

NC licensed general contractor required when state law requires licensure, generally at $40,000 or more. Licensed trade contractors required for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical permits as applicable.

Fees

Minimum permit fee

$85

Plan check fee

Not publicly listed as a separate plan review surcharge; fees are collected at submittal but no separate plan check percentage is published.

Permit fee formula

Valuation-based schedule for many residential and commercial permits, with separate fee tables and formulas by project type. Demolition permit and tent permit listed at $85.

Reinspection fee

Not clearly listed on the public building fee sheet reviewed.

Penalty (no permit)

Permit fee doubles if work begins before permit issuance.

Payment note

Permit payment may be made by check, cash, or credit card for in-person residential intake; online systems also accept portal-based payments.

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

Work That Does NOT Require a Permit

Contact the Engineering and Inspections Department, Building Inspections / Development Services to confirm whether your project requires a permit before starting work.

Inspections

How to Schedule

• APRIL automated phone system (phone)
• Greensboro Building Inspections Scheduler (online)

Scheduling deadline

Requests must be made by 8:00 p.m. the previous business day.

Inspection hours

Weekdays and non-holidays between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.; APRIL has 24-hour phone access for scheduling and status checks.

Typical inspection sequence: Trade rough-ins as applicable, framing and other discipline-specific inspections, then final inspections for each trade and final building approval or certificate as applicable.

Additional Resources

• Building code: NC State Building Code as enforced locally by Greensboro; current statewide enforcement remains the 2018 code with amendments per NC OSFM context.
• Zoning information: View zoning info
• Permits, Fees and Procedures
• Building Permits FAQs
• License lookup guide: North Carolina Contractor License Requirements
• Contract template: North Carolina Homeowner-Contractor Agreement
• North Carolina hub: North Carolina Contractor License & Permit Hub

Other cities in Guilford County