Building permits in Durham, NC
Permits for Durham are issued by Durham City-County, Building & Safety (Inspections). Applications go through the portal below.
Where to file
- Department
- Durham City-County, Building & Safety (Inspections)
- Phone
- (919) 560-4144
- Portal
- ldo4.durhamnc.gov
LDO portal, serves City + County of Durham. 101 City Hall Plaza.
What each job needs in Durham
Typical requirements and fee ranges. Fees scale with project valuation, so treat these as a starting point and confirm the number with Durham City-County before you quote.
| Project | Permits | Typical fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential Remodel | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Addition | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC) | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| New Construction | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Site / Grading | $500–3,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
| Electrical | Electrical | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Plumbing | Plumbing | $50–200 | 3–5 business days |
| HVAC / Mechanical | Mechanical (HVAC) | $50–250 | 3–5 business days |
| Roofing | Roofing | $100–400 | 1–5 business days |
| Deck / Fence | Building | $150–1,000+ (scaled to project valuation) | 10–15 business days |
| Demolition | Demolition | $50–400 | 5–10 business days |
| Commercial Build-Out | Building, Electrical, Plumbing, Mechanical (HVAC), Fire / Life-Safety Review | $300–2,000+ (scaled to valuation; plan review separate) | 10–15 business days |
Licensing in North Carolina
A General Contractor license is generally required for projects $40,000 and up. Electrical/plumbing/mechanical trades are licensed separately.
Issued by North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors · Verify a licence
Stop looking this up
SQM answers this for any job in North Carolina, drafts the contract, and sends the invoice. Ask it in your own words, from the truck.
No credit card. The permit finder is free with no account.
Other North Carolina jurisdictions
Department, portal and phone are from the jurisdiction's published information and have not been re-checked recently. Fee ranges and turnaround times are typical for this kind of work and are not quotes. Requirements change, so confirm with the department before you file. SQM.AI is not a law firm and this page is not legal advice.