Building permits in Forsyth County are handled by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division — a city-county agency within Planning & Development Services that reviews and inspects building and zoning activity throughout the county, except inside the limits of High Point, Kernersville, and King. Applications run through the BuildIT portal.
This Forsyth County building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the BuildIT process, trade permits, and inspections — so your Forsyth project starts clean.
This guide covers Forsyth County via the city-county Inspections Division. The division serves Winston-Salem, unincorporated Forsyth, and most towns (Clemmons, Lewisville, Bethania, Rural Hall, Tobaccoville, Walkertown) — but High Point, Kernersville, and King run their own. Beware scam invoices: payments are handled only within the system, never by mailed invoice.
What requires a building permit in Forsyth County?
Under the North Carolina State Building Code, permits are required under N.C.G.S. 160D-1110 before most construction in the county. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction (single-family, modular, manufactured) and additions
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, decks, porches, and accessory buildings
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Septic/well-related and environmental construction
- Swimming pools, retaining walls, and signs
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Water-heater replacement in 1- & 2-family dwellings (same location/capacity, licensed)
- Replacing lighting fixtures/switches with no change in capacity (1- & 2-family)
- Routine maintenance not extending or rerouting systems
Exemptions are narrow and scope-specific. When unsure, confirm with the building department before starting — see the penalty note below.
Get the permit issued before starting work. Building without one exposes the owner to penalties and stop-work orders. Apply through BuildIT first.
Who handles permitting in Forsyth County?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections are administered by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division of Planning & Development Services, which also enforces zoning under the adopted Unified Development Ordinances. Environmental (septic/well) work coordinates with the Health Department.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Bryce A. Stuart Municipal Building, 100 East First Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 |
| Phone | 336-727-2624; askinspect@cityofws.org |
| Online portal | BuildIT — buildit.cityofws.org/wsfcpermit |
| Covers | Winston-Salem, unincorporated Forsyth, and most towns (not High Point/Kernersville/King) |
| Payments | Handled only within the system — ignore mailed/emailed invoices |
| Enforced code | North Carolina State Building Code |
Apply through BuildIT. The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County permitting system handles applications, plan review, payments, and inspection scheduling. First time permitting with the division? Email askinspect@cityofws.org or call 336-727-2624 to get started. Note: no invoices are mailed — payments are made within the system, so disregard any invoice claiming to be from the city or county.
Forsyth County building permit cost
Forsyth County building permit fees are set by the Inspections Division fee schedule and based on the type and valuation of work, with separate building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fees.
Because fees are valuation-based and adjusted periodically, confirm current amounts in BuildIT before budgeting. All payments are processed within the BuildIT/Cityworks system.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Based on type and valuation of work |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Charged separately per trade |
| Plan review | Via the city-county plan review portal |
| Zoning review | Per the adopted Unified Development Ordinances |
| Payments | Within the BuildIT system only (no mailed invoices) |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific Forsyth County project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Forsyth County trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work generally needs its own permit and a state-licensed contractor, each filed in BuildIT.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations (replacing lighting/switches without a capacity change in 1- & 2-family dwellings is exempt), performed by a state-licensed electrical contractor.
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, fixtures, and gas piping; replacing a water heater in a 1- or 2-family dwelling (same location/capacity, by a licensed person) is exempt. Performed by a state-licensed plumbing contractor.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a state-licensed heating contractor. Specialized systems are permitted and inspected separately.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, pools, decks, and signs are permitted separately. Septic- and well-related construction coordinates with Environmental Health, and manufactured/modular homes are permitted and inspected by the division.
Verify your contractor's license and appoint a lien agent. North Carolina requires a licensed General Contractor for projects costing $40,000 or more (verify at the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, nclbgc.org), plus separate state licensing for electrical, plumbing, heating, and fire-sprinkler contractors. For most projects of $30,000 or more, the owner must also appoint a lien agent through LiensNC (liensnc.com) before work begins. Only the owner or a licensed contractor may pull a permit; the property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Forsyth County
Confirm scope & jurisdiction
Verify the work needs a permit and confirm the parcel is served by the Inspections Division (most of Forsyth, but not High Point, Kernersville, or King).
Get set up in BuildIT
If you're new, email askinspect@cityofws.org or call 336-727-2624 to get started, then access the BuildIT portal.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, valuation, and plans per the submittal requirements.
Apply in BuildIT
Submit the building (and trade) applications and plans through the portal for review.
Plan review & corrections
The Inspections Division reviews plans and zoning for code compliance; resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay fees within the BuildIT system (never via mailed invoice), then post the permit on site and schedule inspections through close-out.
Inspections in Forsyth County
Schedule inspections through the BuildIT portal using your permit record. Typical checkpoints include footing/foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site throughout construction.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Forsyth County permitting resources
- 🏛️ Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division
- 💻 BuildIT permitting portal
- 📋 Forms, applications & fee schedules
- 🪪 NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- 📝 LiensNC — appoint a lien agent
- 📘 NC State Building Code (OSFM)
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company: we prepare your paperwork, file it correctly, and coordinate with the building department through issuance — including preparing private-provider documentation where that option is available. We are not a contractor and do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your team and the jurisdiction.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general informational purposes and reflects publicly available information believed accurate as of June 2026. Permit requirements, fees, and processes change; always confirm current details with the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Inspections Division before filing. This is not legal advice.