Greensboro, NC Building Safety: Building Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issued by
- building inspector
- Late-permit penalty
- fee equals permit cost
- Posted placard
- required, visible from street
- Demolition permit holders
- licensed contractor or owner only
- Base inspection fee
- $85 for first $11,000
Summary
No one may start construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of a building in Greensboro without a written permit from the building inspector under City Code § 6-56, unless the work is exempt under the North Carolina State Building Code. Skipping the permit adds a late fee equal to the permit cost itself.
(a)No person shall commence or proceed with the construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of any single building or other structure or part thereof without a written permit therefor from the building inspector except for building construction that is exempted from permit requirements under the North Carolina State Building Code. The copy of the permit shall be kept on the premises for public inspection during the prosecution of the work and until completion of the same. An identification placard showing the permit number signed by the building inspector shall be conspicuously posted on the site readily visible from the street. ...(e)For failure of a person to apply for and obtain any building permit required prior to commencement of a construction job, there shall be an additional fee in an amount equal to the permit fee itself.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 132).
Full Breakdown
Section 6-56(a) bars commencing or proceeding with the construction, alteration, repair, removal or demolition of any building or structure, or part of one, without a written permit from the building inspector, except for work exempted under the North Carolina State Building Code. The permit must stay on the premises for public inspection throughout the job, and an identification placard bearing the permit number, signed by the building inspector, must be posted where it's visible from the street. Subsection (b) restricts demolition permits to a licensed general contractor, a demolition contractor, or the owner, and requires a state NESHAP number and asbestos removal permit for commercial demolition, or an accredited asbestos inspector's report for residential demolition.
Subsection (c) applies the same permit requirement to erecting, altering or repairing a billboard or sign, absent a Building Code exemption. Under subsection (d), the building inspector must approve or disapprove an application within a reasonable time if the proposed work conforms to this article, the zoning ordinance, and other applicable ordinances. Subsection (e) imposes a direct financial consequence for skipping the process: anyone who fails to apply for and obtain a required permit before starting a construction job owes an additional fee equal to the permit fee itself, on top of the regular fee schedule in § 6-64.
Violations & Fines
Working without the required permit triggers an additional fee equal to the standard permit fee under § 6-56(e), on top of the base fee set in § 6-64's cost schedule. The building inspector can also issue a stop-work order under § 6-44 for work proceeding without a permit or in violation of approved plans, halting the job until the owner brings it into compliance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit for a small repair job in Greensboro?
What happens if I build without a permit in Greensboro?
Who can pull a demolition permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Greensboro
Compare Greensboro to another location·View the North Carolina building safety overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Building Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in this county handle building permits.