Building permits and zoning in Durham

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Durham’s Building and Safety and Planning and Development pages.

Durham and Durham County share their permit and planning offices, so the same rules and the same counter apply whether you live inside the city limits or out in the county. Building permits and inspections come from the City-County Building and Safety Department. Zoning, site plans, rezonings and historic district approvals go through the Planning and Development Department. Both are on the ground floor of City Hall.

Who to call

• Building and Safety (permits, plan review, inspections): 919-560-4144, PermitTechnicians@durhamnc.gov
• Planning and Development (zoning, site plans, rezonings): 919-560-4137, Planning@DurhamNC.gov
• Both: 101 City Hall Plaza, ground floor. Walk-in hours 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.
• Apply and track: Dplans for permit submittals and the Land Development Office system to track applications, permits and inspections

When you need a permit

The department enforces the North Carolina State Building Code for the city and the county. From its permits list:

• Building permit: any project with load-bearing work, or any project over $40,000 in market value.
• Electrical permit: installing, repairing or altering wiring or equipment. Minor fixture swaps in a one- or two-family home are exempt.
• Mechanical permit: installing or upgrading heating, air conditioning or ventilation.
• Plumbing permit: new construction, additions, alterations and replacements, private water and sewer lines, and new backflow devices (which also need a permit from the city’s Cross Connection Control program).
• Multi-trade permit: several trades on one permit for a coordinated project.
• Temporary power: only once a building permit has been issued.

Any work that disturbs land in a FEMA-mapped floodplain, including a fence, signpost or trail, also needs a floodplain development permit.

Inspections

Inspections run in a set order. For a house, duplex or townhouse, the department’s inspection requirements list footing, foundation, slab, framing and insulation inspections, plus electrical, plumbing and mechanical rough-in and final inspections. Footings must be free of standing water and debris; rough-ins are inspected before insulation or drywall goes up. Schedule and track inspections in the LDO system. If you disagree with an inspector’s call, the department has an informal internal review form; call 919-560-4144.

Zoning: what can be built where

Durham’s zoning rules are in the Unified Development Ordinance, adopted in 2006 and last updated March 1, 2026. A searchable copy is at UDO.DurhamNC.gov. The department is writing a new UDO; drafts and ways to comment are on ENGAGEDurham.

To find the zoning of a parcel, look it up on Durham Maps, which also shows city and county boundaries, floodplains and historic properties. The mapping resources page links the Durham Rezoning Explorer, where you can read and comment on active rezoning and annexation requests.

From the department’s approval processes page:

• Rezoning (zoning map change): staff review takes 30 business days, re-reviews 15. The case then goes to a Planning Commission public hearing and on to City Council or the Board of County Commissioners, depending on where the land is.
• Variances and minor special use permits go to the Board of Adjustment in a quasi-judicial hearing. A pre-submittal meeting with staff is required; email BOA@DurhamNC.gov with questions.
• Major and transportation special use permits are decided by City Council or the county commissioners.
• Historic districts and landmarks: work on a local landmark or in a local historic district needs a Certificate of Appropriateness first.
• Neighborhood meetings: applicants for rezonings, annexations and several other requests must hold one before they apply.

Fees are in the department’s current fee schedule.

Meetings for the rest of 2026

The Planning Commission normally meets on the second Tuesday and the Board of Adjustment on the fourth Tuesday; the November and December board dates are exceptions. Agendas are posted in the city’s Agenda Center before each meeting, and Planning Commission meetings stream on the city’s YouTube channel. The Board of Adjustment has seven members and three alternates, appointed by City Council and the county commissioners.

To hear about hearings near you, sign up for the Planning Public Notification Service, a weekly email.

What this means for you

• Load-bearing work, or a job over $40,000? You need a building permit. Start with a call to 919-560-4144.
• Check a lot’s zoning on Durham Maps before you buy or build.
• A rezoning near you will come before the Planning Commission first; the next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 13.

More: property taxes, road construction and closures and who to call at City Hall.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a building permit in Durham?

The City-County Building and Safety Department says a building permit is required for any project that includes load-bearing work or exceeds $40,000 in market value. Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work need their own trade permits.

Who issues building permits in Durham County?

The City-County Building and Safety Department, on the ground floor of City Hall at 101 City Hall Plaza, handles permits, plan review and inspections for both the city and the county. Call 919-560-4144.

How do I find the zoning of my property in Durham?

Look up the address on Durham Maps at maps.durhamnc.gov, which shows zoning, boundaries, floodplains and historic properties, or call the Planning and Development Department at 919-560-4137.

When does the Durham Planning Commission meet?

The Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month in the City Council Chambers at City Hall. The next meetings are Oct. 13, Nov. 10 and Dec. 8.