Building permits in Winston-Salem are issued by the Inspections Division of the Planning & Development Services Department — a City-County agency that reviews and inspects building and zoning activity throughout most of Forsyth County (except the limits of High Point, Kernersville, and King). Trade permits run through the BuildIT portal, while building (construction) permits go through plan review.
This Winston-Salem building permit guide covers what requires a permit, how fees work, the Inspections Division process, BuildIT for trades, zoning, and inspections — so your Winston-Salem project starts clean.
One agency, much of the county. The Inspections Division serves Winston-Salem and most of Forsyth County and enforces several jurisdictions' zoning ordinances — but not High Point, Kernersville, or King, which run their own. Note too that BuildIT is for trade permits only; building (construction) permits are handled through plan review, not BuildIT.
What requires a building permit in Winston-Salem?
Under the North Carolina State Building Code (and N.C.G.S. 160D-1110), a permit is required before most construction, renovation, or structural change that affects the safety, use, or footprint of a building. Common triggers include:
Permit required
- New construction — single-family, modular, and manufactured homes
- Additions, alterations, and accessory buildings (sheds, etc.)
- Structural / load-bearing alterations and demolition
- Reroofing, window and door replacement, and exterior work
- Electrical service changes and most wiring alterations
- Mechanical / HVAC installations and changeouts
- Plumbing alterations, repipes, and water heaters
- Signs and change-of-use projects
Typically exempt
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and cosmetic work
- Like-for-like minor repairs not altering structure or systems
- Certain low non-structural fences (confirm limits)
- 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 the Inspections Division first — and beware permit-fee scams (the city/county do not email invoices demanding payment; when in doubt, call 336-727-2624).
Who handles permitting in Winston-Salem?
Permitting, plan review, and inspections are administered by the Inspections Division of the Planning & Development Services Department. Staff review plans and issue building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing permits and enforce the adopted zoning ordinances (UDOs) of the jurisdictions they serve.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Office | Bryce A. Stuart Municipal Building, Suite 328, 100 E. First Street, Winston-Salem, NC 27101 |
| Phone | 336-727-2624 (customer service) |
| Trade permits | BuildIT online portal (licensed contractors) — not for building permits |
| Coverage | Most of Forsyth County (except High Point, Kernersville, King) |
| Electrical code | 2020 NEC (commercial); 2017 NEC for one- and two-family dwellings |
| Enforced code | North Carolina State Building Code |
Use BuildIT for trade permits; building permits go through plan review. BuildIT lets licensed plumbing, electrical, and mechanical/HVAC contractors apply for trade permits, purchase permits, and schedule their own inspections. Building (construction) permits cannot be applied for in BuildIT — submit those through plan review.
Winston-Salem building permit cost
Winston-Salem building permit fees come from the Inspections Division fee schedule, based on project type and value, with separate building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing fees. A permit fee increase took effect July 1, 2024.
Payments are handled within the city's systems (Cityworks/BuildIT) — the city and county do not email invoices, so treat any such invoice as a likely scam and call to confirm. Confirm current amounts on the fee schedule before budgeting.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building / construction fee | Per the Inspections Division fee schedule, by project type and value |
| Trade permits (E / P / M) | Separate fees; trade permits filed in BuildIT by licensed contractors |
| Plan review | Required for building (construction) permits |
| Fee increase | A permit fee increase took effect July 1, 2024 |
| Refund policy | Refunds available per the July 1, 2024 policy |
| Work-without-permit | Penalties and possible stop-work orders |
Want a precise number for a specific Winston-Salem project? Send us the scope and valuation and we'll return a fee estimate alongside a filing timeline.
Winston-Salem trade permits
Electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work needs its own permit and a state-licensed contractor; licensed trade contractors file these and schedule their own inspections in BuildIT.
Electrical permits
Required for service installations, panel upgrades, solar PV, and most wiring alterations, performed by a contractor licensed by the NC Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors. Winston-Salem enforces the 2020 NEC (with the 2017 NEC still applying to one- and two-family dwellings).
Plumbing permits
Required for new plumbing, repipes, water heater changeouts, fixtures, and gas piping, performed by a contractor licensed by the NC plumbing/heating board.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for HVAC changeouts, ductwork, and refrigeration, performed by a state-licensed mechanical contractor. Note the A2L refrigerant transition that took effect in 2025.
Miscellaneous & specialty
Reroofs, signs, pools, and solar are permitted separately. Because the Inspections Division serves multiple jurisdictions, confirm which zoning ordinance (UDO) applies to your parcel before you design.
Verify your contractor's license. North Carolina requires a state General Contractor license from the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors for projects costing $40,000 or more, plus separate state licenses for electrical (NC Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors) and plumbing/heating (NC State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating & Fire Sprinkler Contractors). Verify before signing. The property owner is responsible for ensuring a permit is obtained.
How to get a building permit in Winston-Salem
Confirm scope, jurisdiction & zoning
Verify the work needs a permit, confirm the parcel falls under the Inspections Division (most of Forsyth County, not High Point/Kernersville/King), and check the applicable UDO zoning.
Prepare your documents
Assemble the application, signed/sealed plans, and energy documentation; trade contractors prepare BuildIT applications. For projects of $30,000 or more, North Carolina law requires designating a lien agent through LiensNC (owner-occupied single-family homes are exempt).
Apply (building vs trade)
Submit building (construction) permits through plan review; licensed contractors file trade permits in BuildIT.
Plan review & corrections
Inspections Division staff review plans for code compliance; resolve comments and resubmit.
Pay fees & pull the permit
Pay fees within the city's system (no emailed invoices), then post the permit on site.
Schedule inspections through close-out
Schedule inspections (trade contractors can self-schedule in BuildIT). Clear all required inspections to obtain your Certificate of Occupancy.
Inspections in Winston-Salem
Schedule inspections through the Inspections Division; licensed plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and refrigeration contractors can self-schedule in BuildIT. Typical checkpoints include foundation, rough-in MEP, framing, insulation, and final. Post the permit and approved plans on site.
A re-inspection fee applies to failed inspections and must be cleared before a final inspection or Certificate of Occupancy can be requested.
Official Winston-Salem permitting resources
- 🏛️ Winston-Salem Inspections Division
- 💻 BuildIT online permitting (trade permits)
- 📋 Construction & permits
- 🪪 NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- 📘 NC building codes (OSFM)
- 📄 LiensNC — lien agent designation
Simplify Winston-Salem permitting with Alliance Permitting
Winston-Salem's City-County coverage, multi-jurisdiction zoning, and split between BuildIT (trades) and plan review (building permits) reward applicants who route each permit correctly. Alliance Permitting is a permit expediter for Winston-Salem — our permit expediting services pair AI-driven document review with experts who know the Inspections Division and BuildIT, so your Winston-Salem submissions move faster.
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Contractors and builders choose Alliance for Winston-Salem because we deliver:
- Local expertise — we know the Winston-Salem Inspections Division, BuildIT, and the multi-jurisdiction UDOs.
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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.