Winston-Salem, NC Building Safety: Electrical Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit required for
- wiring installation or alteration
- Issued only to
- state-licensed electrical contractors
- Minimum permit fee
- $75.00
- Concealed wiring
- inspected before covering
- Penalty
- class 3 misdemeanor, up to $500
Summary
Winston-Salem requires a permit and electrical-inspector approval before any wiring, device, or equipment installation or alteration, with only licensed electrical contractors normally eligible to obtain one.
Permit required; exceptions. No electrical wiring, devices, appliances or equipment shall be installed within or on any building, structure or premises, nor shall any alteration or addition be made in any such existing wiring, devices, appliances or equipment, without securing a permit therefor and having an inspection thereof made by the electrical inspector, except as stated in subsections (b)(1) and (2) of this section.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 102 | Personnel: Supplement 96 | Water and Sewer: Supplement 56 | Solid Waste: Supplement 15).
Full Breakdown
Winston-Salem's electrical inspector must approve and permit any wiring, device, appliance, or equipment installation, alteration, or addition before work begins, with narrow exceptions for minor repairs like lamp replacement and work done by a utility company under Code § 10-242(b). Only holders of a state electrical contractor's license qualify for a permit, though a homeowner may get a personal permit to wire their own non-rental property if the inspector finds them competent, under § 10-242(c)-(d). Concealed wiring must be inspected before it's covered, and a final inspection follows completion under § 10-242(e)-(f). Permit fees run a $75.00 minimum per § 10-243(a)(7), scaled up by outlet count, equipment type, and service size.
Violations & Fines
Violating section 10-242 is a class 3 misdemeanor under G.S. 14-4, punishable by a fine up to $500.00 per § 10-242(i). Work performed without a permit also draws a late fee equal to the permit cost under § 10-245.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I wire my own home in Winston-Salem without a contractor?
What happens if electrical work is done without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Winston-Salem
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