The City of Durham and unincorporated Durham County share one permitting department: the City-County Building & Safety Department at City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza (919-560-4144, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.). The parts of Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Morrisville and Cary that reach into Durham County are inside those municipalities’ limits. Chapel Hill issues its own permits; check any parcel inside those limits with the town or city first.
Inside that area the next question is a systems question. Durham splits intake across two platforms: the LDO portal for trade permits, payments, and public record search, and Dplans for building plan submittals and all solar. Filing in the wrong one is the local equivalent of filing with the wrong jurisdiction.
Applies to the City of Durham and unincorporated Durham County, both served by the same City-County department. The Durham County parts of Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Morrisville and Cary are outside its area.
Your portal account is created by staff, not by you. The CID account required to file has to be requested from the permit technicians — start that before you need it, not the morning you plan to submit.
What requires a permit in Durham County?
Durham runs a merged model: a single City-County Building & Safety Department (long known as City-County Inspections) permits, reviews, and inspects for the City of Durham and unincorporated Durham County, enforcing the statewide code plus both governments’ zoning ordinances. Whether your parcel is downtown or on a county road, the department — and the portal — are the same; only the zoning layer changes.
Under the NC State Building Code and G.S. 160D-1110, permits are required before most construction, alteration, and system work anywhere in the county. 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 renovations county-wide
- Structural changes and demolition
- Electrical services and most wiring alterations
- New or redesigned plumbing — including private water/sewer services and irrigation backflows
- Mechanical/HVAC installations and changeouts
- All solar photovoltaic systems, residential and commercial (a building permit since October 2019, filed through Dplans)
- Manufactured homes, family care homes, and day care facilities
- Work in mapped floodplains, with floodplain management review
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 County building department: who handles permitting
The department reviews Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire permit applications for both governments, working from the ground floor of Durham City Hall (101 City Hall Plaza; office hours 8 a.m.–5 p.m. and customer lobby 9 a.m.–3 p.m. weekdays; main line 919-560-4144). Zoning enforcement covers the City’s ordinance inside city limits and the County’s in unincorporated territory — same reviewers, different rulebooks by parcel.
Short on time to read all of this?
Get a free quote →Intake is two-portal: the LDO (Land Development Office) portal carries trade applications, payments, inspection scheduling, and a public record search reaching back to October 2007 — while Dplans takes building plan submittals, including every solar PV application and electrical one-lines. Portal access requires a Client Identification (CID) account created by staff: email permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov with the subject “CID Permitting Account Needed” plus your licenses, and register once it's issued.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Department | Durham City-County Building & Safety (City-County Inspections) |
| Office | Durham City Hall, 101 City Hall Plaza — office 8 a.m.–5 p.m., lobby 9 a.m.–3 p.m. M–F |
| Main line | 919-560-4144 · permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov for CID accounts |
| Portals | LDO (trades, payments, inspections, search) · Dplans (building plans, solar) |
| Records | Public LDO search back to October 2007 — no login required |
| Payments | Cards and eChecks via the portal processor; no paper checks |
Get the CID first. Accounts cannot be self-created — staff issue the Client Identification, and nothing files until it exists. Note also that the old automated phone scheduling line is gone: inspections schedule only through the LDO portal (or the lobby computers if you lack internet access).
Durham County, North Carolina is the subject here. Durham, New Hampshire and Durham, Connecticut are separate municipalities, and County Durham in England is not a permitting jurisdiction in any sense that applies.
Durham County permits: record types and what each covers
Durham’s catalog includes phased-occupancy and pre-opening records that are worth knowing before you need them:
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 | A single record covering more than one trade on the same job | Trade review under one permit rather than several | Per-permit |
| Temporary Power Permit | Construction power ahead of the final electrical inspection | Electrical inspection of the temporary service | Flat |
| Backflow permit | Backflow prevention assembly installation and testing | Cross-connection control 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 |
| Stocking Permit | Moving fixtures and inventory in before occupancy is granted | Life-safety review of the partial-use condition | Flat |
| Partial Occupancy Permit | Occupying part of a building while work continues elsewhere | Inspection of the completed portion plus separation review | 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 Durham
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Building permit | New construction, additions, and alterations, submitted through Dplans for review |
| Electrical / Mechanical / Plumbing | Trade records in the LDO portal, with plumbing covering private water and sewer services and irrigation backflows |
| Multi-Trade Permit | A single combined record for coordinated multi-trade projects |
| Temporary Power Permit | Construction or event power, available only once a building permit has issued |
| Stocking Permit | Commercial-only authorization to stock goods before the Certificate of Compliance |
| Partial Occupancy Permit | Commercial-only phased occupancy ahead of full completion |
| Solar PV | Every system, residential and commercial, as a building permit through Dplans |
| Backflow permit | Companion record through Cross Connection Control on any backflow install |
Rather not deal with the Durham County building department?
Get a free quote →Solar permits in Durham
Durham has required a permit for solar installations since October 2019, and every solar submittal goes through Dplans rather than the LDO portal — no exceptions, residential included.
Roofing permits in Durham
Reroofs file as county-city records through the shared department. Records in the LDO portal reach back to October 2007, so a property's roofing history is usually searchable before you quote the job.
Solar covenants and the roofing permit exemption are set by state law, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. North Carolina rules
Durham County permit cost
Fees follow the adopted schedule per record, with one planning-side anchor worth knowing: the Planning Department's building-permit review line is $104 (set July 1, 2024, including the technology surcharge). Portal payments carry the processor's convenience fees — 3.3% per card transaction, 50 cents per eCheck — and paper checks are refused across the board.
Impact fees apply on qualifying development and pay through the same channels; budget the processor percentage on large card payments or default to eCheck.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building & trade fees | Per the adopted schedule by record type |
| Planning review line | Flat $104 building-permit review fee (since July 2024) |
| Impact fees | On qualifying development, paid through the portal |
| Card payments | Plus 3.3% processor convenience fee |
| eCheck | Flat 50-cent processor fee — the economical route |
| Paper checks | Not accepted for any permit-related 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 County trade permits
Trades file in the LDO portal under your CID, with Durham's combined and staged records available where they fit — a Multi-Trade filing can replace three separate applications on coordinated work.
Electrical permits
Services, panels, and wiring by an NC-licensed electrical contractor; one-line diagrams route through Dplans.
Plumbing permits
System work by a licensed plumbing contractor — with Durham’s scope covering private water/sewer services and irrigation backflow installs (plus the companion Cross Connection Control record).
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Installations, changeouts, and duct alterations by a licensed heating contractor.
Staged commercial tools
Temporary Power once the building permit issues; Stocking and Partial Occupancy records to open in phases — sequence these into the schedule rather than discovering them late.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →Durham County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in Durham County, 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 (“CID Permitting Account Needed”) with contact details and licenses; register in the LDO portal once staff issue it.
Building plans — and all solar PV — prepare for Dplans; trade applications prepare for the LDO portal. City or county zoning applies by parcel.
Plans to the department's minimum plan-review requirements, plus a LiensNC lien-agent designation at the statutory threshold.
File in the right portal, watch comments on the record, and resolve until Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing, and Fire disciplines clear. Enhanced Plan Review is available for qualifying permits.
Card (with the percentage fee) or eCheck (flat) — never a paper check — then print the permit from the LDO record.
Schedule every inspection in the portal, pass milestones through finals, and close to the Certificate of Compliance — with Stocking or Partial Occupancy records deployed if you're opening in phases.
Inspections in Durham County
All inspection scheduling lives in the LDO portal against your permit record — the automated phone line is retired — with lobby computers available weekdays for anyone without internet access. The sequence runs footings, rough trades, framing, insulation, and finals to the Certificate of Compliance.
The public search covers application status, review comments, and inspection results back to October 2007, searchable by permit number, address, parcel, or owner without a login.
Only the permit applicant with credentials can schedule inspections on a record — line up access before the slab date. 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 County permit search and official resources
Durham's two-portal stack plus the statewide essentials — and the no-login public search that makes property history transparent:
- Durham City-County Building & Safety
- LDO portal — permits, payments, inspections
- LDO public search (permits & inspections)
- Durham County government
- 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 Durham County?
The Durham City-County Building & Safety Department — one joint agency serving the City of Durham and unincorporated Durham County, enforcing the statewide code plus each government’s zoning ordinance by parcel. The Durham County parts of Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Morrisville and Cary fall under those municipalities instead.
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →How do I run a Durham County permit search?
Use the LDO portal’s public search — no login required — by permit number, address, parcel, or owner. Records, review comments, and inspection results reach back to October 2007.
What is a CID and why can't I just register?
The Client Identification is Durham's staff-created account key: portal self-registration is disabled, so you email permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov with your details and licenses, staff create the CID, and then you register against it. Build the lead time into your schedule.
What files in Dplans versus the LDO portal?
Building plan submittals — including every solar PV system and electrical one-line diagrams — go through Dplans; trade applications, payments, inspection scheduling, and record search live in the LDO portal. Same department, two front doors.
Why won't Durham take my check?
Policy: paper checks are not accepted for any permit-related fee, impact fees included. The portal's processor takes cards at a 3.3% convenience fee or eChecks at a flat 50 cents — eCheck is the economical default on big invoices.
Do solar panels need a permit in Durham?
Yes — all solar photovoltaic systems, residential and commercial, have required a building permit since October 2019, filed through Dplans with the electrical one-line. And 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.
What are Stocking and Partial Occupancy permits?
Durham’s phased-opening tools, both commercial-only: a Stocking Permit lets you load merchandise before the Certificate of Compliance, and a Partial Occupancy Permit opens completed portions ahead of full completion. Plan around them.
How long does a Durham County permit take?
Trade records move quickly once the CID exists; building records ride Dplans review, with the Enhanced Plan Review track available for qualifying permits. The statewide clock backs residential filers: initial review in 15 business days, refunds past 20.
How much does a Durham County permit cost?
Per the adopted schedule by record, plus the $104 planning review line and any impact fees — and the processor's card percentage if you don't use 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 and immediate expiration after 12 months idle (G.S. 160D-1111); changes from approved plans need the department's written sign-off first.
Simplify Durham County permitting with Alliance Permitting
Durham's merged department is efficient once you're inside it — but the CID gate, split portals, and no-check rule stall first-timers for weeks. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Durham County — we hold active access, route Dplans vs. LDO correctly, and keep records moving to compliance.
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:
- Access on day one — CID and portal registration handled before your schedule needs them.
- Right-door routing — building plans to Dplans, trades to LDO, zoning matched to the parcel's government.
- Phased-opening strategy — Stocking, Partial Occupancy, and Temporary Power records sequenced into commercial schedules.
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 County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.