Greensboro permits come from Development Services, 300 W. Washington St., 336-373-2155. Minimum permit fee $85. Rezonings go to the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the City of Greensboro’s Engineering and Inspections and Planning departments.
Permits, plan review and inspections in Greensboro run through Development Services in the Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St., open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Zoning, rezoning and historic district approvals run through the Planning Department in the same building.
Who to call
- Permits and plan review: Development Services, 336-373-2155, Development.Services@greensboro-nc.gov
- Schedule an inspection (APRIL line): 336-373-2400
- Zoning, rezoning, historic districts: Planning Department, 336-373-2144
- Engineering Division: 336-373-2302
- Online: Building Inspections Scheduler
When you need a permit
From the city’s residential construction page:
- Always for structural work, and for any construction, installation, repair or alteration costing more than $40,000.
- Any time you cover new ground: a deck, room addition, accessory building, garage or pool.
- For work of $40,000 or less when it adds, repairs or replaces load-bearing structure; adds or redesigns plumbing; adds or changes heating, air conditioning or wiring (other than like-for-like swaps of devices and light fixtures); adds roofing (not replacement); or touches anything the North Carolina Fire Code covers.
- Not needed to replace windows, doors, siding, or the pickets, railings, stair treads and decking of porches and decks.
Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need a separate permit.
Doing the work yourself
A homeowner can pull a permit for their own house if they own and live in it (with proof), sign the city’s affidavit, are not selling or leasing it, and oversee the work. For a building permit, the house must stay off the sale and rental market for at least a year after the work is done. For plumbing, mechanical or electrical work, you must do the work yourself.
How to apply
- New construction, additions and accessory buildings need plan review. Upload a site plan drawn to scale through the city’s residential plan review process.
- For interior alterations only, fill out the Residential Building Permit Application and bring it to Development Services with a North Carolina driver’s license or ID.
- Pay when you apply, by check, cash or card.
What it costs
The fee is based on the cost of the work. The minimum fee for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits is $85, up from $75, according to the city’s permits, fees and procedures page, which links the building permit fee schedule, a fee calculation worksheet and the trade fee schedules.
Inspections
Request inspections online with the Building Inspections Scheduler or by phone through APRIL, the city’s automated line, at 336-373-2400. Requests must be in by 8 p.m. the business day before, and you need the seven- or nine-digit permit number from your permit card.
How many homes are being permitted
The city issued 541 building permits for new one-family houses in the 12 months from October 2025 through September 2026, according to its building permits open data. July 2026 was the busiest month, with 72. Across every kind of building permit, from alterations to signs, the city issued 3,596 in the same 12 months.
Zoning and rezoning
Zoning rules are in the city’s Land Development Ordinance. Three bodies hear most requests:
| Body | What it decides | Meets | Next meetings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Planning and Zoning Commission | Rezonings, including conditional zoning; original zoning on annexation; advises City Council on ordinance changes | Third Monday, 5:30 p.m., Katie Dorsett Council Chamber | Oct. 19, Nov. 16, Dec. 21 |
| Board of Adjustment | Variances, special exceptions, special use permits and appeals of staff interpretations | Fourth Monday, 5:30 p.m., Council Chamber | Oct. 26, Nov. 23 |
| Historic Preservation Commission | Certificates of appropriateness for exterior work in local historic districts | Last Wednesday, 4 p.m., Plaza Level Conference Room | Oct. 28, Dec. 9 |
Next meeting dates follow each board’s regular schedule and the city calendar; holiday weeks can move a meeting, so check the board’s page first. Board of Adjustment applications for variances, special exceptions and appeals are due 30 days before the meeting, and special use permit applications 45 days before. Appeals of a board decision are due within 30 days.
The Planning and Zoning Commission has nine members appointed by City Council for three-year terms. It also advises the City Council on annexations, street closings and changes to the ordinance.
Historic districts
Greensboro has three locally zoned historic districts: College Hill, Dunleath and Fisher Park. Before any exterior work there, you need a certificate of appropriateness. City staff can approve minor work such as repairs, landscaping, a fence or a back-yard deck; new construction, additions and major alterations go to the commission. Call 336-373-2144 or email hdprogram@greensboro-nc.gov.
What this means for you
- Covering new ground means a permit, even for a deck or shed.
- Budget at least $85 a trade, and more as the job grows.
- In College Hill, Dunleath or Fisher Park, get the certificate before the permit.
Related: property taxes, Greensboro home prices and moving to Greensboro.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a deck in Greensboro?
Yes. The city requires a building permit any time you cover new ground, including decks, room additions, accessory buildings, garages and pools. Electrical, plumbing and mechanical work each need their own permit.
Where do I get a building permit in Greensboro?
From Development Services in the Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Call 336-373-2155.
How much is a building permit in Greensboro?
The fee is calculated from the cost of the work using the city’s fee schedules. The minimum fee for building, electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits is $85.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Greensboro?
Use the city’s online Building Inspections Scheduler or call the automated APRIL line at 336-373-2400 by 8 p.m. the business day before. You need your permit number.
When does the Greensboro Planning and Zoning Commission meet?
On the third Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the Katie Dorsett Council Chamber of the Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St.
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