The City of Durham and unincorporated Durham County are permitted by the same office — the City-County Building & Safety Department, on the ground floor of City Hall at 101 City Hall Plaza (919-560-4144). There is no separate city building department and no separate county one.
The customer lobby is open a narrower window than the office — 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekdays, against office hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. — and paper checks are not accepted for any permit fee. Card payments carry a processing surcharge; eCheck carries a flat fee. Neither is optional if you were planning to post a cheque.
Applies inside the City of Durham. The same department serves unincorporated Durham County under the county guide.
No paper checks, and a planning review line on top. Every building permit carries a separate planning review fee added in July 2024 — budget it alongside the permit fee rather than discovering it at payment.
What requires a permit in Durham?
Durham's structural answer is the merger: the city doesn't run a separate building office because the City-County Building & Safety Department — administered from Durham City Hall — serves the city and county alike, enforcing the statewide code plus the City's zoning ordinance inside the limits. For a city filer, that means downtown towers and Trinity Park renovations move through the same reviewers, portals, and inspectors as everything else in the county.
Under the NC State Building Code and G.S. 160D-1110, permits are required before most construction, alteration, and system work in the city. The 2024 NC State Building Code was originally slated for January 1, 2025, but S.L. 2024-57 and then S.L. 2025-2 (the Disaster Recovery Act of 2025, passed after Hurricane Helene) pushed its effective date to 12 months after the State Fire Marshal certifies publication and the seating of the new Residential Code Council — currently expected no earlier than 2027. Until then the 2018 code governs, though an owner may elect the 2024 code as an alternate method under § 102.5 of the Administrative Code if the plan set says so clearly.
Permit required
- New construction, additions, and tenant upfits across the city
- Structural alterations and demolition
- Electrical services and most wiring changes
- Plumbing work — including private water/sewer services and irrigation backflows (with the companion Cross Connection record)
- Mechanical/HVAC installations and changeouts
- Every solar PV system since October 2019, filed as a building permit through Dplans
- Family care homes, day cares, and manufactured homes
- Floodplain-touched work under the city's floodplain management
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
Durham building department: who handles permitting
The department's customer lobby sits on the ground floor of Durham City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza (9 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays; main line 919-560-4144), reviewing Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire applications for both governments — city zoning applying to city parcels.
Intake splits by record: building plan submittals — including all solar PV and electrical one-lines — go through Dplans, while trade applications, fee payments, inspection scheduling, and the no-login public record search (back to October 2007) live in the LDO portal. Filing requires a staff-created CID account (email permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov, subject “CID Permitting Account Needed”), and an Enhanced Plan Review track offers expedited handling for qualifying permits through the department's scheduling coordinator.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Durham City-County Building & Safety |
| Lobby | Ground floor, City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza — 9 a.m.–3 p.m. M–F |
| Main line | 919-560-4144 · CID requests to permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov |
| Building plans | Dplans — including all solar PV submittals |
| Trades & payments | LDO portal (cards +3.3%, eCheck flat; no paper checks) |
| Expedited | Enhanced Plan Review for qualifying permits |
Two front doors, one department: draw the Dplans/LDO line correctly on day one, get the CID requested the same day, and — if your project qualifies — book the Enhanced Plan Review track with the coordinator rather than waiting in the standard queue.
This guide covers the City of Durham, North Carolina. Durham, New Hampshire and Durham, Connecticut are separate jurisdictions, and unincorporated Durham County is covered in its own guide even though the same department serves both.
Durham permits: record types and what each covers
City filers get the full Durham catalog, including the phased-opening records that let commercial projects earn revenue before full completion:
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 |
| Multi-Trade Permit | One record covering several trades on the same residential job | Trade review under a single permit | Per-permit |
| Temporary Power Permit | Construction power ahead of final electrical | Inspection of the temporary service | Flat |
| Solar PV | Any solar installation — required since October 2019 | Filed through Dplans, never the LDO portal | Flat or system-size based |
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 |
| Stocking Permit | Bringing fixtures and inventory in before occupancy | Life-safety review of the partial-use condition | Flat |
| Partial Occupancy Permit | Occupying a finished portion while work continues | Inspection of the completed portion and separation review | Flat |
| Enhanced Plan Review | Qualifying projects seeking a faster review track | Expedited review against published eligibility criteria | Premium over standard review |
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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 Durham
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Building permit | New construction, additions, and alterations through Dplans review |
| Trade permits | Electrical, mechanical, and plumbing records in the LDO portal by licensed contractors |
| Multi-Trade Permit | One combined record for coordinated multi-trade scopes |
| Temporary Power Permit | Construction or event power once the building permit exists |
| Stocking Permit | Commercial pre-opening stocking before the Certificate of Compliance |
| Partial Occupancy Permit | Commercial phased occupancy ahead of completion |
| Solar PV | Every system as a building permit through Dplans, one-line included |
| Backflow permit | Cross Connection Control companion on any backflow install |
Rather not deal with the building department?
Get a free quote →Solar permits in Durham
Durham has required solar permits since October 2019 and routes every one of them through Dplans. A solar record filed in the LDO portal is not in the queue, however complete it looks.
Roofing permits in Durham
Reroofs are city records filed with the same City-County department. LDO public search reaches back to October 2007, which usually settles whether a roof has been permitted before.
Solar covenants and the roofing permit exemption are set by state law, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. North Carolina rules
Durham permit cost
Fees follow the adopted schedule per record type, with the Planning Department's building-permit review line at a flat $104 (including the technology surcharge) since July 2024. Payments run through the LDO portal's processor — 3.3% on cards, 50 cents per eCheck — and paper checks are refused for every permit-related fee, impact fees included.
On large invoices, eCheck is the obvious economy; on phased commercial jobs, budget the Stocking/Partial Occupancy records into the plan rather than adding them under deadline pressure.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building & trade fees | Per the adopted schedule by record type |
| Planning review line | Flat $104 (since July 1, 2024, surcharge included) |
| Impact fees | On qualifying development, portal-paid |
| Cards | Plus 3.3% processor fee |
| eCheck | Flat 50 cents — the economical channel |
| Paper checks | Not accepted for any permit fee |
Want a precise number for a specific Durham project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
Durham trade permits
Trades file in the LDO portal under your CID — with Durham’s Multi-Trade record collapsing coordinated scopes into one filing, and the plumbing scope covering private water/sewer services and irrigation backflows.
Electrical permits
Services, panels, and wiring by an NC-licensed electrical contractor; one-lines through Dplans.
Plumbing permits
Licensed-contractor system work covering private water/sewer services and irrigation backflows — with the Cross Connection Control companion record on backflow installs.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Installations, changeouts, and duct work by a licensed heating contractor.
Commercial staging
Temporary Power, Stocking, and Partial Occupancy records sequenced so tenants stock and open in phases instead of waiting on the last inspection.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Durham permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Durham, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Email permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov with contact details and licenses; the staff-created account gates everything, so it's the true start of the schedule.
Building plans and solar to Dplans; trades, payments, and inspections to the LDO portal — with city zoning applying to your parcel.
Plans to the department's minimum requirements plus the LiensNC lien agent at the statutory threshold (owner-occupied single-family exempt).
File in the right portal and, if the permit qualifies, book the Enhanced Plan Review track with the coordinator instead of the standard queue.
Card or eCheck through the portal — never a paper check — then print and post the permit from the LDO record.
Schedule every inspection in the portal through finals and the Certificate of Compliance, deploying Stocking or Partial Occupancy records if opening in phases.
Inspections in Durham
Inspections schedule exclusively through the LDO portal against your record — the retired phone line isn’t coming back — with the footing-to-final sequence closing at the Certificate of Compliance and lobby computers covering offline filers weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For due diligence, the no-login public search is the tool: any Durham address's permits, comments, and inspection results back to October 2007, by permit number, address, parcel, or owner.
Only the credentialed permit applicant can schedule inspections on a record — sort access before the crew is waiting on a footing. A North Carolina building permit expires six months after issuance if work has not begun (local ordinance can set less), and immediately if work stops for 12 months (G.S. 160D-1111); changes from approved plans need written approval from the inspection department first, unless the code clearly allows the change (G.S. 160D-1112).
Durham permit search and official resources
The city filer's stack — two portals, the public search, and the statewide essentials:
- City-County Building & Safety (City of Durham)
- LDO portal — trades, payments, inspections
- LDO public search — permits & inspections
- Applications & forms
- NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- LiensNC — designate a lien agent (jobs of $40,000 or more)
Frequently asked questions
Who issues building permits in the City of Durham?
The Durham City-County Building & Safety Department — the joint agency at City Hall that serves the city and the county alike. There is no separate city-only building office; city parcels simply answer to the City's zoning ordinance within the shared process.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How do I run a Durham permit search?
The LDO portal’s public search needs no login: permit number, address, parcel, or owner, with records, review comments, and inspection results back to October 2007.
What's the difference between Dplans and the LDO portal?
Dplans takes building plan submittals — including every solar PV application and electrical one-line — while the LDO portal carries trade applications, payments, inspection scheduling, and the record search. One department, two doors; route correctly and reviews start immediately.
What is the Enhanced Plan Review?
Durham’s expedited track for permits meeting its published criteria, booked through the department’s scheduling coordinator rather than the standard queue.
Why was my check refused?
Durham accepts no paper checks for any permit-related fee, impact fees included. The portal processor takes cards at 3.3% or eChecks at a flat 50 cents — eCheck wins on anything sizable.
Do solar panels need a permit in Durham?
Yes — every solar photovoltaic system, residential and commercial, has required a building permit since October 2019, filed through Dplans with the one-line diagram. On the HOA side: G.S. 22B-20 voids covenants that prohibit, or have the effect of prohibiting, solar panels on a home. An HOA may still set rules on where panels go and how they are screened, but only if owners keep reasonable use of them, and it may ban panels visible from the ground on a front or roof slope facing a street or common area only if the covenant bans them in so many words. In Belmont Association v. Farwig (2022), the NC Supreme Court held that a review committee's general power over appearance is not such a ban. The statute does not cover condominiums in multi-storey buildings with units stacked one above another.
How do I schedule an inspection?
In the LDO portal, as the credentialed permit applicant — the automated phone line was retired. If you lack internet access, the City Hall lobby computers are available weekdays 9 a.m.–3 p.m.
What are Stocking and Partial Occupancy permits?
Commercial-only phased-opening tools: Stocking authorizes loading merchandise before the Certificate of Compliance, and Partial Occupancy opens completed portions early. Build them into retail and multifamily schedules deliberately.
How much does a Durham building permit cost?
Per the adopted schedule by record, plus the flat $104 planning review line and any impact fees — with the card percentage avoidable via eCheck. Confirm current numbers on the fee schedule before budgeting.
When is a licensed general contractor required?
North Carolina requires a licensed General Contractor for any project of $40,000 or more (NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, nclbgc.org). The license tiers cap single-project value: Limited to $750,000, Intermediate to $1,500,000, Unlimited without cap — excluding land cost — across Building, Residential, Highway, Public Utilities, and Specialty classifications.
What is the lien agent requirement?
For work costing $40,000 or more, no permit may issue until the owner has designated a lien agent through LiensNC and the agent's details appear on the permit (G.S. 160D-1110(g)). Improvements to an owner-occupied existing single-family residence, and incidental accessory structures, are exempt — and a manufactured home's purchase price doesn't count toward the trigger. (The threshold was raised from $30,000.)
How long is my permit valid?
Six months to commence, immediate expiration after 12 months idle (G.S. 160D-1111), and plan deviations need written departmental approval before you build them.
Simplify Durham permitting with Alliance Permitting
Durham rewards filers who know its doors — Dplans vs. LDO, the CID gate, the Enhanced track, the no-check rule. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Durham — we hold access, route intake correctly, and put qualifying projects on the fast track the day they're ready.
Trusted by leading builders, developers, and national contractors — 21+ years of filing in the jurisdictions we write about.
Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Durham because the work is done by people who have stood at the counter:
- Day-one access — CID requested and portal registration completed before your schedule depends on it.
- Enhanced-track placement — qualifying permits booked with the coordinator instead of the standard queue.
- Commercial staging — Stocking, Partial Occupancy, and Temporary Power sequenced into opening plans.
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 Durham permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.