Property Maintenance in Wake County, NC (2026)

1 county-level rule, plus city-specific rules for 3 cities in Wake County, North Carolina.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Wake County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Property Blight

Wake County does not run a county-wide minimum-housing code in residential neighborhoods within municipalities. NCGS §160D-1203 gives counties authority over abandoned, blighted, or unsafe structures in unincorporated areas. Each Wake municipality has its own minimum-housing program (Raleigh §10-6121, Cary Ch. 30, Apex Ch. 11, Wake Forest Ch. 8).

Wake County Minimum Housing & Blight Rules

Some Restrictions

Wake County Planning & Development Services — Code Enforcement

Wake County Code Enforcement staff respond to building code, zoning and environmental health violations ONLY in unincorporated areas of the county. Complaints accepted include: If someone is doing construction without a permit; If someone is operating an illegal commercial business in a residential area; If a building is unsafe due to a leaking roof, unsecured dwelling, structural damage or fir...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Property Maintenance by City in Wake County

3 cities in Wake County have their own property maintenance rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.

RaleighPop. 467,665

2 verified rules • Property Blight, Vacant Lot Maintenance

CaryPop. 174,721

1 verified rule • Property Blight

ApexPop. 58,780

2 verified rules • Property Blight, Vacant Lot Maintenance

All Wake County ordinances

See every category we cover for Wake County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.

Wake County Ordinance Hub →