Alamance County building permits are issued by the Inspections Department for unincorporated county land and for the Village of Alamance and the towns of Elon, Gibsonville, Green Level, Haw River, Swepsonville and Ossipee. Burlington, Graham and Mebane run their own inspections departments, so the county’s three largest cities are out of scope.
Alamance sits on I-40 between Greensboro and Durham. One number — (336) 290-0404 — handles every inspection request and inquiry, and the department publishes required inspections, results, and its fee schedule online, so most questions can be answered before you dial.
Applies to unincorporated Alamance County and to the Village of Alamance and the towns of Elon, Gibsonville, Green Level, Haw River, Swepsonville and Ossipee. Burlington, Graham and Mebane permit their own work.
The office has moved. The county’s Planning, Inspections, GIS and Environmental Health departments have relocated to 1946 Martin Street in Burlington. Older references that send people to West Elm Street in Graham are out of date.
What requires a permit in Alamance County?
An Alamance County building permit is required before you construct, reconstruct, alter, repair, move, remove, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building, and before you install, alter, repair, or replace regulated systems. Alamance sits between Greensboro and Durham along I-40 and its inspections department serves unincorporated county land plus towns that contract for the service.
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold
- Structural and load-bearing alterations, repairs, and demolition
- Electrical service changes, panel work, and most wiring alterations
- Plumbing additions, repipes, gas piping, and non-identical water heater swaps
- Mechanical and HVAC installations and changeouts
- Change of occupancy or use in an existing building
- Manufactured and modular home placement and setup
- Swimming pools, decks, and detached structures over the thresholds
Typically exempt
- Nonstructural work costing $40,000 or less in a single-family home, farm building, or commercial building (G.S. 160D-1110(c))
- Replacement windows, doors, exterior siding, and porch/deck pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking
- Like-for-like plumbing swaps that keep size and capacity, and like-kind light fixtures, receptacles, and switches
- Same-spec water heater changeouts installed by a licensed contractor
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and other cosmetic work
North Carolina enforces one State Building Code statewide; the 2018 edition still governs while the 2024 edition waits on the State Fire Marshal and the new Residential Code Council. North Carolina rules
Alamance County building department: who handles permitting
The Alamance County Inspections Department handles permits for building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work in unincorporated Alamance County and in the Village of Alamance and the towns of Elon, Gibsonville, Green Level, Haw River, Swepsonville and Ossipee. Burlington, Graham and Mebane run their own inspections departments, so the three largest cities in the county are outside this guide.
One number does everything: (336) 290-0404 is the department's line for all inspection requests and inquiries. Hours run Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but permits are issued only between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., which is a half-hour narrower than the office is open.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Alamance County Inspections Department, 1946 Martin Street, Burlington, NC 27217 |
| Also listed | Out of date: the department has relocated from West Elm Street, Graham, to Martin Street |
| Phone | (336) 290-0404 for all inspection requests and inquiries |
| Hours | Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–5 p.m.; permits issued 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m. |
| Does not serve | Burlington, Graham and Mebane, which run their own inspections departments |
| Permit search | Public permit search published by the county |
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Alamance runs a county Fire Sprinkler Awareness and Incentive Program. When a home fire sprinkler system that the code does not require (NFPA 13D) is installed in a new home, the county cuts the new home permit fee by 50% and charges no plan review or permit fee for the sprinkler system itself. Sprinkler plans must be approved before the building permit issues, and a licensed sprinkler contractor must install the system.
This guide covers Alamance County, North Carolina, seated in Graham. Alamance has no interstate twin, but three of its cities — Burlington, Graham and Mebane — run their own inspections departments, and the county borders Guilford, Orange, Randolph, Rockingham, Chatham, and Caswell, several of which appear elsewhere in this library.
In 2025, building permits issued in unincorporated Alamance County authorized 996 new privately owned housing units, all of them single-family homes, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Building Permits Survey.
Alamance County permits: record types and what each covers
Alamance publishes its requirements as separate residential and commercial permit tracks with their own form sets, so identifying the track first saves a return trip. These are the records the department issues:
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Full plan review against the 2018 NC Residential Code, plus zoning | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Load-bearing changes, work over $40,000, or added or redesigned plumbing, HVAC, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; 15-business-day residential clock applies | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement costing over $40,000, and any work that adds rather than replaces roofing | Inspections set by the local department; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV, with or without battery storage | Electrical review led, with structural review of the attachment | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted ESS added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, most rewiring | Trade review by the electrical inspector; filed as its own record | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and non-identical water heater swaps | Trade review; like-for-like same-capacity swaps are statutorily exempt | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | All HVAC equipment installs and changeouts, including like-for-like swaps, plus ductwork and refrigeration | Trade review by the mechanical inspector | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks and structural rebuilds; pickets, rails, treads, and decking are exempt replacements | Footing and framing review against the residential code | Flat or valuation-based |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barriers, and bonding | Structural, barrier, and electrical bonding review | Valuation-based |
| Accessory structure | Sheds, detached garages, and carports above the local size threshold | Zoning first, then structural review where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification and asbestos notification | Flat |
| Residential fire sprinkler | Sprinkler systems filed under the county incentive program | Reviewed with the building record; incentive applied separately | Offset by county program |
| Modular or manufactured home | Placement, setup, anchoring, and utility connection | Setup and utility connection review | Flat |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings | Full multi-discipline review; sealed plans required | Valuation-based |
| Upfit / tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups in an existing shell | Concurrent building, trade, and fire review | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope; accessibility triggers attach | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Life-safety, accessibility, and zoning review | Valuation or flat |
| Shell building | A building permitted without a known tenant or use | Shell review only; no certificate of occupancy until an upfit closes | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement or recover | Structural check on added dead load; fire review where applicable | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount arrays | Structural, electrical, and fire access review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review; separate record from the building permit | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, grease, and gas systems | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-offs attach | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review; energy compliance documentation required | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, hood, and suppression systems | Fire prevention review, often a separate submittal | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning review plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| Change of occupancy | Converting an existing building to a different occupancy class | Life-safety, accessibility, and zoning review | Valuation or flat |
| Demolition permit | Full or partial removal of a structure | Utility disconnect verification | Flat |
Rather talk it over?
Call 1-855-478-4290 →Residential
- Single-discipline review in most cases
- One permit covers simultaneous same-address residential projects (G.S. 160D-1110(d))
- Initial review due within 15 business days; after 20, 10% of the fee is refunded for each business day late (up to 10 days)
- No engineer's or architect's seal may be demanded unless the code itself requires it
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans where state law requires them; small commercial buildings can be exempt (G.S. 83A-13)
- Third-party plan review available under G.S. 160D-1110.1 when review stalls
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in Alamance
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential permit | New dwellings, additions, alterations, and accessory structures |
| Commercial permit | Ground-up commercial, upfits, alterations, and change of use |
| Electrical permit | Services, panels, circuits, and wiring alterations |
| Plumbing permit | New piping, repipes, fixtures, and gas piping |
| Mechanical permit | HVAC installations, changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration |
| Manufactured or modular home | Placement, setup, anchoring, and utility connection |
| Demolition permit | Full or partial removal with utility disconnect verification |
| Residential fire sprinkler | Filed under the county's sprinkler awareness and incentive program |
Solar permits in Alamance
Solar in Alamance files as an electrical-led record with structural review of the attachment, requested on the same departmental line as everything else. In Burlington or Graham it is a municipal permit instead.
Rather not deal with the Alamance County building department?
Get a free quote →Roofing permits in Alamance
Reroofs in the county's jurisdiction are county permits. The county's sprinkler incentive is worth raising during any substantial roof or attic work, since access is never cheaper than when the ceiling is already open.
Solar covenants and the roofing permit exemption are set by state law, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. North Carolina rules
Alamance County permit cost
Alamance County building permit fees follow the department's published fee schedule, with the building record and each trade permit charged separately. Fees are collected when the permit is issued, within the 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. issuance window.
Two things belong in the budget beyond the fee itself. The county's residential fire sprinkler incentive can offset part of a sprinkler installation, and North Carolina also makes the money visible. Under S.L. 2022-11, every local government must publish an annual financial report showing how it used the prior year's building-code fees to support, administer, and implement its code enforcement program (G.S. 160D-402(d), with G.S. 160D-1102 governing the inspection department's own accounting).
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | County fee schedule by record type and scope |
| Trade permits (E/P/M) | Charged separately per trade record |
| Plan review | Applies to commercial and to major residential submittals |
| Issuance window | Permits issued 8 a.m.–4:30 p.m., not until 5 p.m. |
| Fire sprinkler incentive | County program offsetting residential sprinkler installation |
| Re-inspection | Charged on failed inspections before final or certificate |
Want a precise number for a specific Alamance project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Alamance County trade permits
Alamance County trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work are separate records pulled by the state-licensed contractor doing the work, requested through the same department line.
Electrical permits
Required for services, panel upgrades, circuits, EV chargers, and solar interconnection. Electrical work takes a contractor licensed by the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, unless owners wire their own home that is not for sale or rent.
Plumbing permits
Required for new piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and non-identical water heater changeouts by a state-licensed contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for all installations and changeouts, including like-for-like swaps, plus ductwork and refrigeration, by a state-licensed heating contractor.
Fire sprinkler
Residential sprinkler work runs through the county's awareness and incentive program — worth raising at design stage, since retrofitting a sprinkler layout after framing is where the cost actually lives.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Alamance County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Alamance County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Establish whether the parcel is unincorporated, in one of the towns the county serves, or inside Burlington, Graham or Mebane — each of which runs its own department. The county’s GIS site confirms whether an address can be permitted by the county.
Residential and commercial run on separate form sets. Pull the matching set before you start filling anything in.
If the project is residential and sprinklers are under consideration, raise the county's incentive program while the design is still fluid.
Email the application and PDF plans to planreview@alamance-nc.com; the county no longer accepts paper plans. Simple residential trade permits can be applied for online. Permits issue within 48 hours of plan review approval.
Resolve review comments, then collect the permit inside the 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. issuance window.
Request inspections online or on the department line at (336) 290-0404. Requests in by 4:00 p.m. are scheduled for the next business day; later requests slip to the business day after. Fees must be paid before an inspection can be requested.
Inspections in Alamance County
Alamance County inspections are requested online or on the department’s line, (336) 290-0404. Requests received after 4:00 p.m. (including online) are scheduled for the business day after next, and all fees must be paid before an inspection can be requested. Typical checkpoints run footing and foundation, rough-in trades, framing, insulation, and final.
The department publishes its required-inspections list and its inspection results online, so you can confirm what a stage will be checked against before the inspector arrives. If the local inspection department will not inspect within two business days of the request, the permit holder may ask the State Fire Marshal in writing to send an inspector (G.S. 143-139.4). G.S. 160D-1104 also requires the inspector to carry out every inspection requested for a scheduled visit and to point out each part of the work that fails the code.
State law sets how long a North Carolina permit stays valid and when changes need written approval. North Carolina rules
Alamance County permit search and official resources
Run an Alamance County permit search, check required inspections, or reach the Inspections Department with the official links below.
- Alamance County Inspections Department
- Alamance County permit search
- Required permits and applications
- NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- LiensNC — designate a lien agent (jobs of $40,000 or more)
- NC State Building Code (OSFM)
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in Alamance County?
The Alamance County Inspections Department, for unincorporated county land and for the Village of Alamance and the towns of Elon, Gibsonville, Green Level, Haw River, Swepsonville and Ossipee. Burlington, Graham and Mebane run their own inspections departments and are not covered by the county.
Where is the Alamance County Inspections Department located?
1946 Martin Street, Burlington, NC 27217. The county’s Planning, Inspections, GIS and Environmental Health departments relocated there; older references to West Elm Street in Graham are out of date.
What number do I call for Alamance County inspections?
(336) 290-0404. The department consolidated onto a single line for all inspection requests and inquiries, so there is no separate scheduling number to look up.
What are the Alamance County permit office hours?
Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., but permits are issued only between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Arriving at 4:45 gets you a conversation, not a permit.
Does Alamance County have a fire sprinkler program?
Yes — a Fire Sprinkler Awareness and Incentive Program. Installing a non-required NFPA 13D home sprinkler system in a new home halves the new home permit fee, and the sprinkler plan review and permit carry no fee. Sprinkler plans must be approved before the building permit issues.
How do I run an Alamance County permit search?
The county publishes a public permit search where you can look up issued permits and their status. It is the quickest way to confirm permit history on a property before you buy or bid.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Alamance County?
It depends on size and on whether the structure is over the statutory exemption. Zoning setbacks apply regardless of whether a building permit is required, so confirm both questions rather than just the code one.
When is a general contractor licence required in Alamance County?
On projects of $40,000 or more, under G.S. 87-1 and the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, with tiers capping single-project value at $750,000, $1,500,000, or without limit excluding land cost.
Can I do the work myself in Alamance County?
North Carolina allows an owner-builder exemption from general contractor licensure in defined circumstances, and the county publishes guidance for do-it-yourself projects alongside its contractor licensing information. Read both before claiming the exemption.
How long does plan review take in Alamance County?
Residential plan review runs on the state clock: initial review within 15 business days, with a 10-percent-per-day fee refund if it slips past 20 business days, up to a full refund. Commercial review varies with the disciplines involved.
Do I need a lien agent for an Alamance County project?
For work costing $40,000 or more, yes — designated through LiensNC before the permit issues, with the agent's details appearing on the permit. Improvements to an owner-occupied existing single-family residence are exempt.
When does an Alamance County building permit expire?
Six months after issuance if work has not commenced, and immediately if work is discontinued for 12 months, under G.S. 160D-1111. Changes from approved plans need written approval from the inspection department first.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Alamance County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.