Wake Forest permits are filed online. Inspections: 919-435-9531. Planning and zoning: 919-435-9510. Fences, sheds and driveways need a development permit.
Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Wake Forest’s Inspections and Planning departments.
Two town departments handle building in Wake Forest. Inspections reviews plans, issues building, electrical, plumbing and mechanical permits and inspects the work. Planning handles zoning, development permits for fences, sheds and driveways, rezonings and historic district reviews. Both cover property inside town limits and the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). A Wake Forest mailing address alone does not mean the town is your permit office, the town’s inspections FAQ says; call first if you are not sure.
Who to call
- Inspections Department: 919-435-9531, ground floor of Town Hall, 301 S. Brooks St. (use the Taylor Street entrance)
- Planning Department (zoning): 919-435-9510
- Apply for building permits: the town’s online plan submittal portal
- Apply for development permits and rezonings: GeoCivix
- Report a zoning violation: the town’s zoning enforcement page
Building permits
All residential and commercial permits and plans are submitted online, the Inspections Department says. Pay permit fees and book inspections through the town’s permit and inspection site. Inspections requested by 3 p.m. are done the next business day.
What you need for a new house, according to the town’s permits page:
- A site plan drawn to scale (no hand-drawn plans) showing property lines, easements, floodplains, the building footprint, setbacks and the driveway.
- Plans drawn to at least 1/8-inch scale, with square footage of heated and unheated space and engineer’s seals where engineered products are used.
- A FEMA elevation certificate if any part of the building is in the 100-year floodplain.
Projects of $40,000 or more need a mechanics’ lien agent named on the permit. Owners who live in the home can act as their own contractor, as long as they live there for a year after the work is done.
Common residential fees from the town’s fee schedule:
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| New house up to 1,200 square feet | $600, plus 25 cents a square foot above that |
| Addition or renovation up to 400 square feet | $300 |
| Deck, garage, carport or storage building | $80 plus 25 cents a square foot |
| Single trade (building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | $80 |
| Swimming pool, generator, solar or demolition | $240 |
| Work started without a permit | Double the fee, up to $500 |
Water and sewer connections are permitted by Raleigh Water through its merger communities page.
Development permits for homeowners
Planning issues a development permit, sometimes called a zoning compliance permit, for fences, sheds and other accessory buildings, accessory dwelling units, driveway expansions and home businesses, according to its homeowner permits page. The town’s zoning fees for the 2025-26 fiscal year list $100 for a fence, driveway or home occupation permit and $200 for an accessory structure.
- Fences need a permit on a corner lot or where there is an easement. Fences cannot sit in a public easement. Get HOA approval first if you have one.
- Sheds 12 feet or less on every side need only a development permit. Larger, taller or wired sheds also need a building permit.
- Accessory dwelling units are limited to one per lot, beside or behind the house, with a full kitchen and bath and one extra parking space. Campers and RVs do not qualify.
Zoning and rezoning
To check a property’s zoning and allowed uses, call Planning at 919-435-9510 or see the official zoning map and the use table in the Unified Development Ordinance, the town’s zoning page says. Anyone seeking a rezoning must meet Planning staff before applying. The fee for a general rezoning is $750 plus $25 an acre.
- The Board of Commissioners decides rezonings. It meets at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday of each month at Town Hall, next on Tuesday, Oct. 20, and holds work sessions at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday, next on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the town’s meeting calendar.
- The Planning Board reviews cases first, in the second-floor board chambers at Town Hall. Its next session is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 13, a public comment session on a North Main Street rezoning, according to the town’s hearing notices; check the town’s Planning Board page for agendas.
- The Board of Adjustment hears variance requests and appeals of staff decisions. It cannot grant a variance for a use the district does not allow.
Development under review or recently approved is mapped on the town’s development activity dashboard.
Historic districts
Wake Forest has a local historic district, mostly along North Main Street with part of South Avenue, designated May 10, 1979, plus three National Register districts, according to the town’s historic districts page. Any exterior work on a property in the local district or on a local landmark needs a Certificate of Appropriateness. Staff approve minor work; major work goes to the Historic Preservation Commission and must be filed at least 30 days ahead. Fees run from $25 for minor work to $200 for a demolition.
What this means for you
- Call Planning before you buy fence panels or a shed kit. Corner lots and easements change the rules.
- Book inspections by 3 p.m. for next-day service.
- In the historic district, get the certificate before the work starts.
More guides: Wake County property taxes and who to call at Wake Forest Town Hall.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to build a fence in Wake Forest?
Usually. Inside town limits or the town’s extraterritorial jurisdiction, a fence needs a development permit if the lot is a corner lot or has an easement. The town lists the fee as $100.
Do I need a permit for a shed in Wake Forest?
A development permit is almost always required. If any side is over 12 feet, the shed has more than one story or it has electricity, you also need a building permit.
How do I schedule a building inspection in Wake Forest?
Book it online through the town’s permit portal or call the Inspections line at 919-435-9531 before 3 p.m. for an inspection the next business day.
How do I find my zoning in Wake Forest?
Call the Planning Department at 919-435-9510 or check the town’s official zoning map. You can also search your address in Wake County iMaps and turn on the Wake Forest zoning layer.
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