Building Permits/Inspections

Building and Mechanical Permits

The Planning Department is responsible for processing all Wake County Permits within the Town of Wendell through the Wake County Permit Portal.

  • Building Permits

New Structures: Building Permits are necessary when the structure costs more than $5,000, AND/OR the structure is larger than 144 square feet, AND/OR the structure is self-supporting (i.e. deck), AND/OR any one side of the structure is longer than 12 feet in length then a building permit is required.

Building permits are required for accessory buildings (detached storage buildings) that meet these size requirements, whether they are built on site or are of a pre-fabricated nature.

Residential Additions: Any addition onto an existing house, such as decks, screened porch enclosures, awnings, attached garages, etc. require a permit, regardless of their dimensions.

Commercial Additions/Alterations: Typically, any commercial alteration or addition requires a building permit.  Check with planning department staff (919-365-4448) to find out what your project may require.

  • Building Permit Process
    • Apply for building permit on the Wake County Permit Portal.
    • Submittal of building plans on the portal.
    • Wake County plan review.
    • Wake County Fire Marshal plan review (commercial only).
    • Wake County permit fee and Town of Wendell permit fee payment.
    • Town of Wendell set-back inspection
    • Wake County Fire Marshal inspection (commercial only).
    • Final Wake County site inspection.
  • Mechanical Permits

Mechanical Permits are required when installing, altering, repairing, replacing, or relocating any electrical material, an electrical permit is required. For more information about electrical construction in accordance to the North Carolina State Building Code, please call Wake County Building and Inspections at (919) 856-6222 or visit their website located here.  

Mechanical Permits are also required when installing, altering, repairing, replacing, or relocating any plumbing, heating/air-conditioning material, appliances or equipment then a permit is required. Plumbing permits are not required for minor repairs or replacements on the house side of a trap to an installed system of plumbing provided such repairs or replacements do not disrupt the original water supply or the waste or ventilation system. If a fixture is replaced, a permit is required and the new fixture shall be inspected. Heating and air-conditioning permits shall not be required for minor burner services, or filter replacements of warm-air furnaces or cooling systems. For more information concerning plumbing, heating, a/c, or sprinkler system construction in accordance to the North Carolina State Building Code, please call Wake County Building and Inspections at (919) 856-6222 or visit their internet website located at here. 

  • Mechanical Permit Process
    • Submittal of Mechanical Permit Application
    • Wake County permit fee payment.