Winston-Salem protects its residents and buildings by requiring permits to ensure all construction meets safety standards. Every hammer swing, every wire installation, and every pipe connection in this North Carolina city happens under the watchful eye of building inspectors who make sure your project is built safely.
This guide walks you through the Winston-Salem permitting process: what you need to pull a permit, how much it costs, and the smartest way to get approved fast.
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What requires a building permit in Winston-Salem?
In Winston-Salem, you’ll need a building permit for most construction, renovation, or structural changes that affect the safety, use, or footprint of a building. The Winston-Salem Building Department and Forsyth County Inspections Division oversee these approvals.
Expect to pull a permit for:
- New construction for single-family, modular, manufactured homes, accessory buildings (sheds, etc.), additions, and alterations
- Alterations/repairs to existing structures
- Plumbing, electrical, and mechanical/HVAC work
- Fire protection / up-fit systems (sprinklers, fire alarms, etc.)
- Health / environmental-related construction e.g., where septic tanks/wells are involved or septic expansions
What doesn’t require a building permit?
From the NC state code (GS 160D-1110), as adopted by Winston-Salem, some minor work may not need a permit.
- For one- or two-family dwellings, NC allows an exemption for replacing a water heater (with certain conditions: licensed person, same location, capacity, etc.) without a plumbing permit
- Replacing lighting fixtures/switches, or replacing fixtures with same voltage/amperage and no change to capacity in one- or two-family dwellings
- Other minor changes and repairs, like painting and carpeting
Winston-Salem building permit cost
Building permit fees in Winston-Salem vary by project type, square footage, and construction value. Below is a breakdown of estimated costs.
Residential building permit fees
| Category | Amount |
|---|---|
| Single-Family New Residential (per sq. ft.) | $0.15 |
| Single-Family Additions (per sq. ft.) | $0.15 (min. $100) |
| Single-Family Alterations/Repairs (per sq. ft.) | $0.08 (min. $100) |
| Townhouse / Condo / Twin Home / Urban Home (per unit) | $206.00 |
Commercial building permit fees Commercial plan review fees: To access the full list of fees, refer to the city’s inspection fees page. How long do building permits last in Winston-Salem?In Winston-Salem, building permits typically remain valid for 12 months after issuance. If work begins within that window, the permit can remain active with ongoing inspections. However, if work stops for more than 12 months, the permit may expire, requiring you to reapply. Winston-Salem trade permitsPlumbing permitsAny installation or repair of plumbing systems, residential or commercial, requires a plumbing permit. Electrical permitsWiring new buildings, service changes, or adding circuits all require electrical permits in Winston-Salem. HVAC permitsHeating and air system installations, including replacements, need mechanical permits. Save time pulling permits How to get a building permit in Winston-Salem, NCStep 1: Prepare your plans & documentsTo get started with your application, collect all needed drawings/plans: architectural, structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, as required. Make sure plans comply with Winston-Salem’s building codes, zoning, land development, floodplain, watershed, etc. Then, gather other required documents like:
Step 2: Submit your applicationFor building/commercial/multifamily project permits, use GeoCivix (formerly IDT) for electronic plan review and submission. No paper plans are accepted for commercial plan review. For trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical/HVAC), use the BuildIT portal. Pay the required application/plan review fees at the time of submission. Note: Having a BuildIT account is not the same as having a GeoCivix account. BuildIT is for viewing inspection comments and the permit, scheduling inspections (for contractors only), and reviewing inspection comments. GeoCivix is strictly for plan submission and plan review. Step 3: Plan reviewOnce you submit the application, plans will be reviewed by Building & Inspections, Planning, and related departments for code, zoning, etc. You may get requests for corrections or additional info. Resubmit as needed. Step 4: Pay fees & permit issuanceAfter the plan review is approved and all required documentation is in order, a payment notice is issued. Once payment is made and any required signatures returned, the permit is issued (often via email). Approved plans/stamped plans are released for printing. Step 5: Begin work & schedule inspectionsMake sure you get your permit before starting any work. Once construction begins, you will need to schedule inspections at different stages of your project. You can schedule inspections through the BuildIT system using a contractor's account. If you don't have access to BuildIT, you can call the Permit Office at 336-727-2624 for help. The city requires inspections at important points during construction, such as rough-in work, framing, and final completion. Winston-Salem permitting resources
Streamline Winston-Salem permitting with PermitFlowIn Winston-Salem, building permits can feel like a project of their own. Hours of paperwork, confusing rules, and long waits for approvals slow down jobs that should already be underway. Builders shouldn’t have to lose time and momentum to red tape. PermitFlow makes the process easier. We handle the preparation, submission, and tracking for every Winston-Salem permit (and any other city where you build). Everything stays organized in one simple dashboard so you always know where things stand. Building professionals choose PermitFlow because we ensure:
Don't let permits hold up your projects. Reach out to the experts at PermitFlow to see how we can help. Categories Learn about permitting, industry trends, tips, and customer stories. Content by Role Find the most useful and relevant information for your projects by exploring our articles by role. Learn by State Filter resources by state to get the most up-to-date and accurate information on permitting requirements and regulations. You can now see how the permitting varies from state to state and from municipality to municipality. Select a state below to learn more. Thank you! Your submission has been received! Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.   Permitting without the headacheBook a Demo     |
