Durham County's building permit rules follow the North Carolina Residential Building Code closely. The shed exemption — 256 sq ft — is the same as Wake County. The deck rule hinges on height: decks over 30 inches above grade require a permit, and all decks attached to the house require a permit regardless of height or size.
Durham County Inspections is at 510 S. Dillard Street, Durham, NC 27701. Phone: (919) 560-4144. Most permit applications can be submitted online at durhamnc.gov. Permit fees are moderate — shed permits typically run $40–$100, deck permits $60–$150.
Note: If you live in the City of Durham, you likely use the city's process. The county handles unincorporated areas only. Use Durham County's GIS at durhamnc.gov to verify your jurisdiction before applying.
What Requires a Permit
Frequently Asked Questions
- A 16×16 shed is 256 square feet — exactly at Durham County's threshold. Durham's rule is 'over 256 sq ft,' so a 16×16 shed is at the limit and does not require a permit. A 16×17 shed (272 sq ft) does require a permit. As always, setback requirements apply even for permit-exempt sheds.
- Any deck higher than 30 inches above grade at any point requires a building permit in Durham County. Additionally, any deck attached to the house requires a permit regardless of height. So a low floating deck — freestanding, never exceeding 30 inches off the ground — may not need a permit. A deck on any sloped yard that rises above 30 inches on one side does need a permit.