RESIDENTIAL
PERMITS AND INSPECTIONS

CITY OF SANFORD / LEE COUNTY
INSPECTION DEPARTMENTS
(To include the Town of Broadway)
900 Woodland Avenue, Sanford, NC 27330

Telephone (919) 718-4654

The following information is meant to help you understand the City of Sanford, Lee County and the Town of Broadway's permitting process, and to aid you in gathering the documentation necessary for residential building permit applications.

Please read the following carefully as you begin your project. It can also be used as a checklist as you progress with your building project.

Any questions concerning building permits or inspections can be made by directly contacting the Inspection Departments at 900 Woodland Avenue, Sanford, North Carolina, (919) 718-4654. Office hours are 8AM-5PM, Monday-Friday.

PERMITS

G.S. 153A-357 and G.S. 160A-417

BLANKET PERMITS ARE NOT ISSUED.

SEPARATE PERMITS ARE ISSUED FOR EACH TRADE TO THE LICENSED CONTRACTOR FOR THAT TRADE.

THE PERSON OR CONTRACTOR THAT IS TO PERFORM THE WORK IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OBTAINING THE NECESSARY PERMITS PRIOR TO STARTING WORK ON THE PROJECT.

SELF-CONTRACTORS WILL BE ABLE TO OBTAIN PERMITS FOR THEIR DWELLING ONLY.

FAILURE TO OBTAIN PERMIT BEFORE WORK IS COMMENCED WILL RESULT IN DOUBLE PERMIT CHARGES.

PERMITS EXPIRE SIX (6) MONTHS AFTER ISSUANCE DATE IF WORK NOT COMMENCED OR IF WORK IS SUSPENDED OR ABANDONED FOR A PERIOD OF TWELVE (12) MONTHS OR MORE AFTER THE WORK HAS COMMENCED. BEFORE SUCH WORK CAN BE COMMENCED OR RESUMED, A PERMIT EXTENSION OR RENEWAL SHALL BE OBTAINED.

The North Carolina State Building Code requires that a permit be issued for “The construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building or structure;”  Accessory Buildings with any dimension greater than twelve (12) feet are required to meet the provisions of the North Carolina State Building Code, Volume VII-Residential. 

“No permit …shall be required for any construction, installation, repair, replacement, or alteration costing Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000) or less in any single family residence or farm building unless the work involves: the addition, repair, or replacement of load bearing structures;”

·     Building permits will be issued to a properly licensed North Carolina General Contractor.

OR

·     To the owner of the property on which the building is to be built and occupied by said owner for at least twelve (12) months following completion (no rental property).  Volume I-A, G.S. 87-1.

OR

To an individual when a general contractor’s license is not required.  The cost of the undertaking can not exceed thirty thousand dollars ($30,000).

Electrical Permits

Electrical permits are required for “The installation, extension, alteration, or general repair of any electrical wiring, devices, appliances, or equipment.”

·    Electrical permits are issued to a North Carolina properly licensed North Carolina Electrical Contractor

                                    OR

·    To the owner of the building that occupies the building after completion of the Owner Electrical Installation Competency Test (no rental property). Volume I-A, G.S.87-43.1(5a).

Mechanical permits are required for “The installation, extension, alteration or general repair of any heating or cooling system;”

·     Mechanical permits are issued to a properly licensed North Carolina Mechanical Contractor

                                     OR

·     To the owner of the building that occupies the building provided that the permit holder performs the work themselves (no rental property or commercial projects). Volume I-A, G.S. 87-21(a)(5)(ii).

NOTE:  Mechanical change-outs and/or relocation of mechanical units require an electrical permit as described above.

Plumbing Permits

Plumbing permits are required for “The installation, extension, alteration or general repair of any plumbing system;”

·    Plumbing permits are issued to a properly licensed North Carolina Plumbing Contractor

                                    OR

·    To the owner of the building that occupies the building provided that the permit holder performs the work themselves (no rental property or commercial projects). Volume I-A, G.S. 87-21(a)(5)(ii).

Modular Home Permits

A building permit is required for modular homes.

In accordance with G.S. 87-1 and G.S. 143-139.1, any person, firm or corporation that undertakes to erect a modular building must have either a valid North Carolina General Contractors License or provide a five thousand dollar ($5,000) surety bond for each modular building to be erected.

The permit fee is for the modular setup (footing, foundation, and final).  Additional building permits shall be obtained for porches, basements, garages, and additional structural alterations to the modular unit in accordance with the permit fee schedule.  A separate permit is required for electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits.