Building permits and zoning in Cary

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Cary’s Inspections & Permits and rezoning pages and the town’s open data portal.

The Town of Cary issues building permits for homes and businesses inside town limits and its extraterritorial jurisdiction. Most applications are filed online, and the permit office is on the first floor of Town Hall, 316 N. Academy St., open 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays except town holidays, according to the town’s Inspections & Permits page.

Who to call

• Permits, inspections, zoning complaints and planning questions: 311 in Cary, 919-469-4000 from outside town limits, 311@carync.gov
• Apply for a permit: Cary permit portal
• Pay fees, schedule inspections, see results: Click2Gov
• Zoning Board of Adjustment: Rob Wilson, assistant development services director, 919-462-3885

When you need a permit

State law requires a permit before building, altering, repairing, moving or demolishing a building, and before most plumbing, heating, cooling and electrical work, the town says on its permit requirements page. Remodeling, decks, porches and additions all need a residential building permit.

The town does not require a permit for:

• Cosmetic replacements such as floor and wall coverings, trim, cabinets and roofing with the same material.
• Accessory buildings, such as sheds, no more than 12 feet in any dimension.
• Replacing light fixtures when the work stays outside the wall or ceiling.
• Replacing plumbing fixtures when the work does not go beyond the trap seal.
• Low-voltage outdoor landscape lighting.

If you are not sure, call 311 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays.

How to apply

1. Simple trade jobs such as a water heater, a heating and air change-out, a service upgrade or an electric vehicle charger can be applied for online without plan review through the town’s Building Permits Online service.
2. Projects with plans go through the standard application. Regular review usually takes seven days or less.
3. Small projects such as decks, porches, storage buildings, additions under 500 square feet and interior work under 1,500 square feet can book an expedited SPOT review, typically finished in one to four business days at no extra cost, according to the town’s alterations and additions page.

Permits are issued electronically. Print the approved plans and keep them on site.

Inspections and closeout

Schedule inspections through Click2Gov, by calling 311 or 919-469-4000 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, by texting 898311 or by email to 311@carync.gov. All final inspections must be called in by phone. On inspection day, call your inspector between 7 and 7:30 a.m. for an arrival time; the town’s Who’s My Inspector? page lists each inspector.

A permit expires after six months with no activity or a year after the last inspection. Restart an expired job and you need a new permit, with the fees doubled. When all inspections pass, the town issues a certificate of occupancy for new buildings or a certificate of compliance for alterations.

The town also warns that it never asks for permit payments by wire transfer.

What Cary is permitting in 2026

The town’s open data lists 9,200 permit applications filed from Jan. 1 through Oct. 9, 2026.

Source: Town of Cary permit applications, retrieved Oct. 11, 2026.

Zoning and rezoning

Zoning in Cary is set by the town’s Land Development Ordinance. To change a property’s use or density, an owner applies for a rezoning, according to the town’s rezoning process page:

1. An optional but recommended pre-application conference with town staff.
2. An online application. Staff check it in five to seven business days.
3. A virtual neighborhood meeting, usually six to eight weeks after the fee is paid.
4. At least one public hearing before the Town Council.
5. A review by the Planning and Zoning Board, which decides whether the request fits the Cary Community Plan.
6. A Town Council vote. A simple majority decides.

Active and past cases are on the town’s rezoning cases page.

The boards

• Planning and Zoning Board: nine members appointed by the Town Council. It meets monthly at 6:30 p.m. in the Council chambers at Town Hall and advises the council on land use and zoning. Agendas and minutes.
• Zoning Board of Adjustment: five members. It meets as needed, typically the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m., and decides appeals of staff decisions and requests for variances. Its hearings are quasi-judicial, so speakers must offer facts or expert testimony. Agendas and minutes.

What this means for you

• Check whether your project needs a permit before you hire a contractor.
• Book a SPOT review for a deck or small addition to save time.
• Watch the Planning and Zoning Board agenda for rezonings near your home and speak at the Town Council hearing.

More guides: Cary property taxes and Cary home prices.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a deck in Cary?

Yes. Decks, porches, additions, remodeling and repairs need a residential building permit from the town. Small projects like decks can get an expedited SPOT review, usually in one to four business days, at no extra cost.

What work does not need a permit in Cary?

The town lists cosmetic work such as flooring, trim, cabinets and same-material roofing, sheds no more than 12 feet in any dimension, and swapping light or plumbing fixtures without opening walls.

How do I schedule a building inspection in Cary?

Use the town’s Click2Gov portal, call 311 or 919-469-4000 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays, text 898311, or email 311@carync.gov. Final inspections must be called in by phone.

When does the Cary Planning and Zoning Board meet?

Monthly at 6:30 p.m. in the Council chambers at Town Hall, 316 N. Academy St. Check the town calendar for each date. The board advises the Town Council, which makes the final call on rezonings.