Wake County Code Enforcement (919-856-2613) handles property-blight complaints only in the unincorporated parts of the county - all 12 municipalities (Raleigh, Cary, Apex, Garner, Wake Forest, Holly Springs, Fuquay-Varina, Morrisville, Knightdale, Rolesville, Wendell, Zebulon) run their own code enforcement inside city limits. Wake County's authority is limited: the Division responds to unpermitted construction, illegal commercial operations in residential zones, unsafe building conditions, hazardous waste dumping, solid-waste / junk-storage violations, mosquito-breeding conditions, and septic failures. It does NOT enforce tall grass / noxious weeds, mold, or firearm discharge.
Wake County Code Enforcement, a division of Planning and Development Services (Waverly F. Akins Wake County Office Building, 336 Fayetteville St., Raleigh; 919-856-2613), is the lead agency for property-blight complaints in the unincorporated county. Per the Division's published scope, staff respond to 'building code, zoning and environmental health violations,' specifically: unpermitted construction; illegal commercial operations in residentially zoned areas; unsafe building conditions; hazardous waste dumping; solid-waste or junk-storage violations; mosquito-breeding conditions; and failing septic systems.
Unlike some neighboring counties, Wake County Code Enforcement explicitly does NOT handle mold inspection or regulation, tall grass or noxious weeds, or firearm discharge complaints - those are either deferred to municipalities, state agencies, or are not within the County's enforcement mandate. This limited scope means many blight-style nuisances inside Wake's 12 incorporated cities and towns must be reported to that municipality's code enforcement instead (the County publishes the full list of municipal contacts: Raleigh 919-996-2444, Cary 919-469-4046, and 10 others).
To file a complaint in the unincorporated county, use the Wake County online complaint form or call 919-856-2613. If a complainant does not receive confirmation, the Division asks that they call the main line. The County maintains a 'View Recently Opened Code Enforcement Cases' public lookup so residents can track active enforcement in their area.
For in-scope violations, Wake County Code Enforcement opens a case, conducts inspection, and issues a Notice of Violation requiring correction. Continued noncompliance can escalate to civil penalties and, for unsafe structures or hazardous-waste cases, County-initiated abatement with cost recovery against the property. For out-of-scope issues (tall grass, mold, firearm discharge) the County will direct complainants to the appropriate municipal or state agency. To report: online complaint form or 919-856-2613. Inside an incorporated city, contact the municipality directly.
Wake County, NC
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