Durham, NC Building Safety: Plumbing Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit trigger
- Install/alter/replace any plumbing system
- New single-family fee
- $170 flat, all fixtures
- Fixture replacement (1-4)
- $65 flat fee
- No-permit penalty
- Double fee; misdemeanor
- Extra trip surcharge
- $50 after 2nd site visit
Summary
Installing or replacing plumbing in Durham needs a City Code § 10-48 permit from Durham Inspections before work starts. Fees are set under § 10-202(a): a new single-family dwelling's full plumbing installation runs $170 flat, while replacing up to four fixtures with no rough-in changes costs $65, and starting work first doubles whatever fee applies.
§10-48: "...to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system, when such work is regulated by the North Carolina Building Code ... an owner or authorized agent shall first make application to the Durham Inspections Department and obtain the required permit." §10-202(a): "The schedule of plumbing code fees shall be set from time to time by the council." Fee Schedule Part 4-106, Schedule A: "New Residential Construction ... All dwellings $170.00." Schedule E: "Fixture Replacement; No Change to Rough-in: 1 to 4 fixtures $65.00."
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 36).
Full Breakdown
Plumbing work is folded into § 10-48's general permit trigger, which covers work "to erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical, or plumbing system" regulated by the North Carolina Building Code: an owner or agent must apply to Durham Inspections and obtain the permit first. Article V of Chapter 10 then sets the plumbing-specific fee mechanism: § 10-202(a) says the schedule of plumbing code fees is set by the council from time to time, published as Fee Schedule Part 4-106.
86 per fixture beyond that, with a $65 charge for an electric water heater requiring its own permit (Schedule E). A separate note adds a $50 surcharge for any inspection trip beyond the second on water or sewer work.
Violations & Fines
Doing plumbing work before a permit issues doubles the normal fee under the Part 4-106 schedule, and § 10-48 separately makes performing unpermitted regulated work a misdemeanor. Voiding an issued plumbing permit costs 15 percent of the permit price, and each inspection trip beyond the second adds a $50 surcharge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to replace plumbing fixtures in Durham?
What does a full plumbing permit cost for a new Durham house?
What if a plumber starts work before pulling the permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Durham
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