Building Safety in Durham, NC (2026)
7 verified building safety rules for Durham, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Lead Paint
Durham's Housing Code bars using any interior paint that exceeds the lead pigment limit set by the Consumer Products Safety Commission, under City Code § 10-234(k). Effective since January 1, 1995, exterior surfaces must also carry a protective coating, and any loose or peeling paint, interior or exterior, must be removed and the surface left smooth and sanitary.
Durham Interior Lead Paint Prohibition
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code § 10-234(k)
(k)Painting. Effective January 1, 1995, all exterior surfaces of buildings and structures, not inherently resistant to deterioration, shall be treated with a protective coating, such as paint or other suitable preservative, with sufficient frequency to prevent deterioration. All such portions shall be cleaned and free of flaking, loose or defective surfacing materials prior to painting or coati...
Childcare Center Rules
Durham's Unified Development Ordinance lets Child Care Centers locate under the Sec. 5.1 use table, but Sec. 5.3.3.E ties every facility to full North Carolina state licensing, inspection, and space standards. Outdoor play areas must meet 10A NCAC 09.1402 and indoor play space must meet 10A NCAC 09.1401 whenever children are the primary clients, and parking in residential districts follows its own street-yard setback.
Durham Child Care Center Zoning Rules
Some RestrictionsDurham UDO Sec. 5.3.3.E
Child Care Centers shall be permitted in accordance with the use table in Sec. 5.1, Use Table, subject to the following: The facility shall meet all applicable State requirements for standards, licensing and inspections. In residential districts, parking located between the structure and the street shall be set back from the right-of-way beyond the minimum or maximum street yard, as applicable....
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Durham's Housing Code requires a working carbon monoxide alarm on every habitable level of a dwelling unit that has a fossil-fuel heater, appliance or fireplace, or an attached garage. City Code § 10-234(l)(8) puts this duty on rental and owner-occupied housing alike, and the city's housing administrator can cite noncompliance during any fitness inspection.
Durham Carbon Monoxide Alarm Requirement
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code § 10-234(l)(8)
(8)Carbon monoxide alarms. A minimum of one operable carbon monoxide alarm per habitable level shall be provided in all dwelling units having a fossil-fuel burning heater, appliance, or fireplace, and in any dwelling unit having an attached garage.
Building Permits
Renovating or remodeling a building in Durham requires a permit from the Durham Inspections Department before work starts. City Code § 10-48 requires a permit for any work that enlarges, alters, repairs, moves, demolishes, or changes the occupancy of a building when the work is regulated by the North Carolina Building Code. Only a narrow state-law exemption applies, and skipping the permit is a misdemeanor.
Durham Interior Renovation Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsDurham, N.C. Code of Ordinances § 10-48
In order to construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, demolish, or change the occupancy of, a building or structure, or 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, as such code may be amended from time to time, an owner or authorized agent shall first ma...
Electrical Permits
Any electrical wiring, device, appliance, or equipment installed or altered in Durham needs a permit from the director of inspection services first, under City Code § 10-107. A narrow low-voltage exemption exists, but the permittee must hold a state electrical contractor's license, and skipping the permit is a misdemeanor.
Durham Electrical Work Permit Rule
Some RestrictionsDurham, N.C. Code of Ordinances § 10-107
Except as otherwise provided, no electric wiring, devices, appliances or equipment shall be installed within or on any building, structure or premises, nor shall any alteration be made in any such existing wiring, devices, appliances or equipment unless a permit therefor shall first have been secured from the director of inspection services. In addition to any other remedy available in the Code...
Plumbing Permits
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.
Durham Plumbing Permit Fee Rule
Some RestrictionsDurham City Code §§ 10-48, 10-202
§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 ...
Building Inspections
Durham runs a standing periodic building inspection program targeted at residential rental property. Under City Code §§ 10-361–10-362, a building lands in the program once it has three or more verified housing-code violations within a 12-month period, has been the subject of a substandard-conditions complaint, or shows visible violations from the outside.
Durham Periodic Building Inspection Program
Some RestrictionsDurham, N.C. Code of Ordinances §§ 10-361, 10-362
Council finds that most complaints and notices issued under the housing code originate from dwellings (residential buildings) that are not owner-occupied. Since the majority of complaints and violations of the housing code arise from dwellings that are not owner-occupied, the administrator or housing inspector may make periodic inspections that solely target residential rental property. ... The...
Looking for Durham County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Durham city rules.
Building Safety in Durham County →