Holly Springs, North Carolina Building Permit Guide

Town of Holly Springs Development Services issues building permits and inspects construction through its Building Safety & Inspections division, and every application, fee and inspection request goes through the Town’s CityView Development Portal. Under the FY 2027 fee schedule a new house up to 3,000 sq ft costs $1,200, and single-family building applications are reviewed in 5-business-day cycles.

What requires a permit in Holly Springs?

Holly Springs Development Services includes Building Safety & Inspections, zoning, development engineering review and building and development permit processing. Building work and UDO permits are separate records in the portal. The Town’s FY 2027 fee schedule shows the residential work it permits:

A residential building permit is reviewed together with a UDO permit, which carries its own $75 fee.

Holly Springs building department: who handles permitting

Land development submittals go to the Development Services Intake Team, and building permits and inspections to the Development Services Permit Team.

Holly Springs permit types and filing path

Holly Springs keeps construction and UDO permits as separate portal records. A zoning or land-development approval is not a building permit.

The Town's portal instructions distinguish new applications, resubmittals and revisions. For resubmittals, applicants are directed to use the same project number and application; revisions are opened as a new application with a new project number.

Permit fees in Holly Springs

Fees come from the Town’s FY 2027 fee schedule (July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027). Review fees must be paid before a submittal is routed, building permit fees before the permit is issued, and every permit carries a 4% technology surcharge.

For example, a 2,500 sq ft house is $1,200 plus the $48 technology surcharge, the $10 Homeowners Recovery Fund and the $75 UDO permit. On Town water and sewer, system development fees for a 3/4-inch meter ($6,162 water and $5,538 sewer) are collected when the residential building permit is issued. A refund is available on an unexpired permit where work has not started, less a $50 processing fee.

Electrical, plumbing, mechanical and gas work

Building Safety & Inspections handles electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and inspections along with building work. The Town’s FAQ says owners of single-family homes can do their own building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work with a notarized owner affidavit.

Alliance handles electrical permits for contractors here. More on this: who pulls the electrical permit.

Application documents and plan review

Since July 1, 2026, Holly Springs takes all Development Services submittals on a rolling schedule. Each submittal needs all applicable documents, including a Certification of Plan Submittal, and all review fees paid before it is routed. Review cycles are 12 business days for most projects and 5 business days for single-family and townhome-related building and UDO permit applications.

Name each uploaded file ProjectName_Phase or Revision_ReviewNumber_SubmittalDate.pdf. The Town’s residential forms include the Designated Lien Agent form, Workers’ Comp Coverage Affidavit, Owner Exemption Affidavit, Change Contractor Form, Revisions Transmittal, Design Professional Inspection Form, Special Inspections Program and the Appendix H on-site wastewater affidavit. Commercial projects can buy an express review at $500 an hour (two-hour minimum).

Before you file in Holly Springs

• Confirm whether the project belongs in a building permit, UDO permit, land-development application or another Town record before opening the portal application.
• Include all applicable documents and the Certification of Plan Submittal, and pay review fees, so the submittal can be routed.

How to apply: 6-step Holly Springs process

Holly Springs inspections

Schedule inspections in the CityView portal under My Construction & UDO Permits. Inspections cannot be requested for the next business day after 4:00 p.m.

A $100 re-inspection fee applies when work is not ready, an inspection finds more than 10 violations, or earlier violations have not been corrected. After-hours inspections need two business days’ notice and cost $125 an hour (two-hour minimum). A same-day Certificate of Occupancy costs $50, and a temporary CO $250 with 48 hours’ notice or $400 with 24 hours’ notice. Engineering inspects each driveway ($125) and the lot or site final before the CO ($200).

Permit status can also be checked in the Town’s Permit Tracker by permit number or service address; it holds permits submitted since September 2009.

Local Holly Springs details that matter

• Contractor registration — Contractors who do not appear in the portal’s contractor search must register before scheduling inspections.
• Utility fees at permit — water and sewer system development fees are collected with the residential building permit, not at the end of the job.
• Reclaimed water and backflow — the Town publishes reclaimed water and backflow prevention device installation guidance with its residential permit forms.
• Informal review — an Inspection Department Informal Internal Review form is available if you disagree with an inspection decision.

North Carolina building code

The 2018 North Carolina State Building Code family applies statewide, with the 2020 North Carolina Electrical Code; one- and two-family homes and townhouses still use the 2017 edition. The 2024 code has been delayed and cannot take effect before late 2027. The NC State Building Code and the delayed 2024 edition

Holly Springs permit search and official resources

These are the primary sources behind this guide. Codes, fee schedules and procedures change — confirm the position for your filing date.

• NC OSFM — AHJ directory map
• NC OSFM current codes
• Permits & Inspections Forms
• Permit Tracker
• Development Portal FAQs
• Forms, Review Schedules & Fee Sheets
• Development Services
• Development Review Process Updates
• How to Schedule an Inspection
• NC OSFM — 2024 code implementation delay
• Holly Springs FY 2027 fee schedule

Holly Springs permit FAQs

Who handles building permits in Holly Springs?

Town of Holly Springs Development Services, through its Building Safety & Inspections division.

What portal does Holly Springs use?

The Town uses its CityView Development Portal for permit applications and applicant actions.

What is the current review cycle?

Since July 1, 2026, most Development Services review cycles are 12 business days; single-family and townhome-related building and UDO applications are 5 business days.

What is the inspection request cutoff?

Inspections cannot be requested for the next business day after 4:00 p.m.

How much is a building permit for a new house in Holly Springs?

$1,200 for a dwelling up to 3,000 sq ft, plus $0.30 per square foot above that, a 4% technology surcharge and the $10 Homeowners Recovery Fund.

What does a failed inspection cost?

$100 when work is not ready, has more than 10 violations or still has uncorrected violations from a previous visit.

Simplify Holly Springs permitting with Alliance Permitting

Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and submission company in North Carolina. We prepare your paperwork, file it correctly and coordinate with the permitting authority through issuance. We are not a contractor and we do not perform licensed plan review or inspections; that work stays with your licensed team and the jurisdiction.

This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about Holly Springs permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.