Permit records
Durham permit search
Durham permit records are public. The jurisdiction publishes them through an online record search, and searching does not require an account.
By Mario Bailey Last checked · 13 official sources
- Project types verified
- 13
- in Durham
- Search verified
- 23 Oct 2026
- we opened it ourselves
Search Durham permit records
The Land Development Office portal's search menu is labeled "Search (Login not required)" and covers Application/Permit, Permit/Related Permit Summary, Parcel (by Parcel ID, PIN, Address or Owner Name) and Inspection; it holds most development permit records for the City and County of Durham since October 2007.
The search accepts permit number, project name, address, parcel id, pin, or owner name.
Open the Durham record searchApplying rather than searching? Use the Durham permit portal
We opened this address ourselves on . Official government links only, and we check them on a schedule.
How to search
- Open the Durham permit record search.
- Enter a permit number, or switch the search type to look up permits by project name, address, parcel id, pin, or owner name.
- Open a result to see the permit's status, inspection history, and issue date.
If the permit does not turn up
Older permits are often missing from online records, and a permit filed under a contractor's name will not surface in an address search that expects the owner. Durham City-County Building & Safety Department (formerly the Durham City-County Inspections Department), a joint City of Durham and Durham County department that issues building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits for both the City of Durham and unincorporated Durham County can check the paper file.
- 101 City Hall Plaza, Ground Floor, Suite 400, Durham, NC 27701
- Phone: 919-560-4144
- Email: permittechnicians@durhamnc.gov
- Official permit page
- Official fee schedule
What needs a permit in Durham
Every project type we have verified in Durham, with the rule, the threshold, and the fee that applies here.
| Project | Permit needed? | Threshold | Typical fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bathroom Remodel Permit | It depends | cost of the remodel work on a single-family residence | No Change to Rough-in": 1-4 fixtures $65.00 |
| Deck Permit | It depends | Before building a new deck or altering its load-bearing structure | ...Schedule F "Miscellaneous": "Residential decks (single and two-family)"... |
| Electrical Permit | It depends | Before installing, extending, altering or generally repairing any electrical wiring... | ...7/1/18, Includes Technology Surcharge): "Minimum electrical permit fee"... |
| EV Charger Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...on individual branch circuits and not covered in other schedules, each" $10.90... |
| Fence Permit | It depends | Only when the fence or wall is on a property in a designated flood plain, is used as a... | See schedule |
| HVAC Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...of a heating/cooling system with any concealed ductwork or component"... |
| Patio Permit | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not published |
| Plumbing Permit | It depends | Before installing, extending or generally repairing any plumbing system | No Change to Rough-in": 1-4 fixtures $65.00 |
| Pool Permit | Permit required | Any size | See schedule |
| Roof Replacement Permit | It depends | cost of the roof replacement work on a single-family residence | ...Surcharge), Schedule F "Miscellaneous": "Residential Reroofing (addition)"... |
| Shed Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Technology Surcharge), Schedule C "Accessory Buildings": "No footing" $50.00... |
| Solar Permit | Permit required | Any size | ...Schedule G "Miscellaneous": "Solar panel inspections" "Residential"... |
| Water Heater Permit | It depends | Before installing a new water heater, or replacing one with a change in fuel, location... | ...Technology Surcharge), Schedule E: "Electric water heater (permit required)"... |