North Carolina permit review deadlines
How long does it take to get a building permit in North Carolina?
North Carolina runs two clocks. House plans must get their first review in 15 business days, and the fee starts coming back at 10% a day after 20.
Commercial and multifamily plans sealed by an engineer or architect get 45 days. Miss that and the applicant can bring in a certified outside reviewer, and the local government waives its fees.
See the deadlines ↓Current North Carolina state-level guidelines
The short answer
For houses built under the North Carolina Residential Code, a local government that reviews plans must finish all initial reviews within 15 business days of submission. If the review is not done in 20 business days, the applicant gets back 10% of the permit fee for each late business day, for up to 10 business days. For commercial and multifamily projects with plans sealed by a licensed engineer or architect, the local government has 45 days to issue a decision. If it misses that, the applicant can choose a certified third-party reviewer, and the local government must issue the permit within 3 business days of the certified review and refund or waive its fees.
By project type
North Carolina permit review deadlines.
North Carolina's deadlines are in G.S. 160D-1110 for homes and G.S. 160D-1110.1 for commercial and multifamily projects.
| Project type | Deadline | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| House plans, initial review | 15 business days | From submission. Runs at the same time as other agency approvals. |
| House plans, refund trigger | 20 business days | 10% of the permit fee per business day after this, for up to 10 business days. |
| Commercial and multifamily, sealed plans | 45 days | To complete review and issue a decision, unless both sides agree otherwise. |
| After requested changes arrive | 10 more days | When the local government asked for more information or changed plans. |
| Permit after a certified third-party review | 3 business days |
With an at-risk permit, the commercial decision window can extend to 60 days. A local government may not require house plans to be sealed by an engineer or architect unless the state building code does.
Step by step
How North Carolina's review clock works.
The initial review runs concurrently with approvals needed from other state, federal, and local agencies.
Each late business day returns 10% of the total permit application fee.
The plans must be complete and sealed by a North Carolina engineer or architect.
If the local government misses the 45 days, or decides it cannot make it, the applicant can elect a certified independent reviewer.
What this means for a review team
- House plan review is concurrent by law. Building review cannot wait in line behind other agencies.
- The refund window is short. Ten late business days returns the whole fee.
- A local government can contract with certified reviewers itself to stay inside 45 days.
When the clock runs out
What happens when a North Carolina department misses the deadline.
The refund starts after 20 business days and covers up to 10 business days, which is the full fee.
The reviewer must be a licensed engineer or architect certified by the state, and must certify in writing that the plans meet the building codes.
After the certified review arrives, the local government must issue the permits.
The local government must refund or waive all plan review and permit fees for the project.
Faster permit approvals start with more efficient plan review.
See how your team can spend less time chasing comments, waiting on other disciplines, and tracking down the status of a review, without changing your permitting system or CDP.
Recent changes
What changed, and when.
2023
Session Law 2023-108Sets the 15-business-day review for house plans.
2023
Session Law 2023-142Adds G.S. 160D-1110.1, the 45-day clock and third-party review for commercial and multifamily projects.
2024
Session Law 2024-49The most recent amendment to G.S. 160D-1110.
City by city
How North Carolina cities handle review times.
Raleigh publishes its own targets, which are tighter than the state deadline for homes.
Raleigh
Raleigh posts the number of business days it aims to take for each kind of review, such as 10 days for a new house and 15 for a new commercial building. A public dashboard shows actual times. The city says these are goals, not guarantees.
Read the source →City details come from each city's public pages as of November 12, 2026. Cities change their targets and processes often, so check the linked source for the current version.
Common questions
North Carolina building permit deadlines, answered.
How long does it take to get a building permit in North Carolina?
House plans must get their first review within 15 business days. Sealed commercial and multifamily plans must get a decision within 45 days.
What happens if a North Carolina building department is late?
On house plans, the applicant gets a 10% refund of the permit fee for each business day past 20, up to 10 days. On commercial plans, the applicant can use a certified third-party reviewer and the fees are refunded or waived.
Does North Carolina require house plans to be sealed?
No. A local government may not require one- and two-family home plans to be sealed by an engineer or architect unless the state building code requires it.
Who pays for the third-party review?
The statute does not say who pays the reviewer. It does say the local government must refund or waive its own plan review and permit fees.
How do North Carolina building departments keep up with these deadlines?
Three habits show up in the departments that hit the clock. They check applications for missing items in the first few days. They let building, fire, planning, and engineering review the same plans at the same time. And they track the days left on every review, so a manager can step in before a deadline passes.
Read it for yourself
Sources.
Keep exploring
Deadlines in other states.
If you review plans in North Carolina
Working under North Carolina's review clock? See how e-PlanSoft can help you hit it consistently.
Meeting a review deadline starts with a good intake process, disciplines that work together, and a clear view of every review in progress.
Book a demoSee how collaborative review works →This page summarizes public laws, rules, and city review practices in North Carolina as of November 12, 2026. Deadlines vary by location and permit type. These summaries are for reference, not legal advice. Check the linked sources and local requirements for the rules that apply to your project.