Durham, NC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)

Sec. 10-48 is the general permit trigger administered by the Durham Inspections Department: before an owner or authorized agent can construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of a building or structure, or install, alter, or replace electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing systems tied to that work, a permit application must be filed and approved first. The section folds interior renovation and remodeling squarely into 'alter' and 'repair,' so a kitchen gut, bathroom remodel, or room reconfiguration triggers the same requirement as new construction, as long as the work is regulated by the North Carolina Building Code.

S. 00 or less. The ordinance is explicit that a state-law provision merely allowing local governments to exempt categories of work does not itself create an exemption in Durham unless Chapter 10 clearly grants one, so a renovation contractor can't assume a class of work is permit-free just because state law would let the city exempt it. Permit fees are set by the city council from time to time (Sec. 10-50) and can be paid in cash, by credit card, or through a monthly charge account billed by the 15th (Sec.

10-51). If permitted renovation work never happens, the fee can be refunded minus a 15 percent service charge, but the refund request must be filed within six months of issuance and accompanied by the physical permit (Sec. 10-50(c)). Sec. 10-48 also states that its permit requirement supersedes any conflicting provision elsewhere in Chapter 10.