Permit FAQs
The Planning Department handles all building permits for the town. The Town of Wendell contracts with Wake County Building and Inspections Department (http://www.co.wake.nc.us/inspect) for inspections; however Wendell staff processes the permitting forms and performs zoning inspections.
All building permits on lots within the town limits of Wendell or its extraterritorial planning jurisdiction must be applied for through the Town of Wendell Planning Department.
If the following information does not answer your particular question, please feel free to call the Planning Department at (919) 365-4448.
When is a Building Permit required?
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, AND/OR the building is non-residential.
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.
If one has further questions about 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.
When is an Electrical Permit required?
If one is installing, altering, repairing, replacing, or relocating any electrical material then an electrical permit is required. If one has additional questions 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.
When is a Plumbing, Heating, Air-Conditioning, or Sprinkler Permit required?
If one is installing, altering, repairing, replacing, or relocating any plumbing, heating, air-conditioning material, appliances or equipment then a permit is required. Plumbing permits will not be 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 shall be secured 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. If one has further questions 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 website located here.
What is needed with a building permit?
Building Permit Form: This form can be acquired at the office of the Planning Department or can be printed from the town’s website. There are two parts. The first part is the listing and information of one's sub-contractors and the second part is a workman's compensation form.
Building Plans: Two copies of plans are needed for single family dwelling or other non-commercial structures. For commercial structures three copies of building plans, along with a CD containing digital copies of the plans, are needed. Any specification on the building plans must meet the North Carolina State Building Code.
Site Plan: Two copies are needed for a single family dwelling or other non-commercial structure. Three copies of the site plan are needed for commercial structures. The site plan does not have to be professionally drawn for residential structures.
Residential site plans, at a minimum, must represent the primary dwelling on the lot with distances to lot lines and the right-of-way, any detached structures located on the property and their distances to property lines, easements, and the address and ownership information for the parcel. Residential site plans are most easily drawn by making a copy of the recorded survey that homeowners often receive with their closing documents. Other options include the use of imaps or drawing the site on a form provided by the town as part of the building permit submittal package.
More information may be required as needed.
Commercial site plan requirements vary by building site and type. Please consult with Planning Staff for requirements on a particular project.
What is the building permit process?
Permits are applied for through the Town of Wendell Planning Department. Planning staff inputs the completed permit application information into the computer and schedules plans for inspection. A Wake County Building Inspector comes to Wendell Town Hall and reviews plans for completeness and conformance with the NC Building Code. If plans need revision the applicant is contacted and given a list of plan deficiencies and is given the opportunity to amend the plans. Otherwise, plans are approved and given to Planning Staff for processing.
Planning Staff prepares the permit to include all applicable fees, zoning letter and other documentation and calls the applicant with fee amounts and informs them their permit is ready to be paid for and picked up.
Wake County collects any applicable Wendell building permit fees. If payment is not made online through Energov, the building permit check should be made out to Wake County Inspections. Any utility fees associated with the building permit should be made out to the City of Raleigh.
Once the applicant pays for the permit, it is activated in the computer system and allows for inspections to be called in to the automated inspection line.
The Town of Wendell conducts up to two inspections depending on the project. The initial inspection is for zoning compliance. Zoning compliance (or setback) inspections must be called into Planning Staff (919-365-4448) prior to scheduling a footing or slab inspection with Wake County.
Once the zoning inspection is completed other applicable building inspections can be scheduled through the Wake County automated inspection line by calling 919-856-6060. Applicants should have their permit number available when calling in inspections. Generally inspections are performed the day after they are scheduled via the automated line.
Once all inspections, including building finals, are completed with Wake County the applicant must call Planning Staff for a certificate of occupancy (or certificate of completeness) inspection. Planning staff will verify that all Town of Wendell requirements have been met prior to issuing a certificate of occupancy or completeness. Once this document is issued, the permit is complete.
How much is a permit going to cost?
Wake County Building and Inspections charges all inspection fees. No building inspection fees are charged by the Town of Wendell; however, the town does charge a zoning inspection fee and building permit processing fee.
Wake County's fees must be paid in full before any inspections will take place. Click here or see below for the fee schedule as presented by Wake County. For questions about these fees, please contact Wake County Building and Inspections at (919) 856-6222. Wake County Permit and Inspection Fee Schedule
Wake County handles all scheduling and processing of inspections.
Here are some useful ways to reach the Wake County Building and Inspections Department.
Wake County Community Development Services
Building and Inspections Department
PO Box 550
Raleigh, NC 27602-0550
Main Line: (919) 856-6222
InspectTalk Line: (919) 856-6060 (this number can be called to schedule inspections through the phone)
Fax Line for Permits: (919) 856-6222