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04/15/2025 11:17 am

Commercial Alteration or Repair and Interior Completions

How to get a permit for alterations and repairs for apartment buildings, condos, schools, restaurants, churches, mixed-used buildings, and commercial projects.

Updated: Apr 15, 2025

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Before You Start Your Project Prepare Application Materials Submittal Instructions Project Review and Permitting Paying Fees

Expanded Pony Express Pilot Program available for commercial permits

As an alternative to the Express Service Review option, Planning and Development is piloting a temporary expansion of the Pony Express Review Process for smaller commercial projects such as interior alterations and upfits.

Interior Completions refers to the initial build-out or fit-up of interior spaces that has not had a previous occupant (first generation tenant). This process applies to spaces within newly constructed buildings, typically completed within the last seven years, resulting in a Certificate of Occupancy.


Before You Start Your Project

There are a few important things to review prior to submitting your permit application:

  1. Is your project located in a Historic District or designated as a Raleigh Historic Landmark? If so, you are required to submit a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC). Approval from the RHDC may be required prior to submitting your permit application. 
  2. Detailed code review will not begin until application submittals have been deemed complete by customer service staff. It is important that all required information is submitted for a project, and it is the applicant’s responsibility to be informed of the prerequisites.
  3. You must be registered in the permit portal before you can manage your project, pay fees, or schedule inspections. Learn more about how to register on our portal help page.
  4. Obtain a recorded map of the property, if available, for new buildings, additions, change of use, and site reviews. If there is no recorded map, a copy of a current signed and sealed survey, in addition to the property description on file with the Wake County Register of Deeds will be accepted.
  5. Establish an address. Contact the GIS Addressing Team at 919-996-4471 for address assignments.
  6. For Food Service, Pool, Institution etc. Please obtain a HSIPOP # from Wake Environmental.
  7. Changing the use or occupancy of a building or portion of a building? If yes, schedule a 20-minute virtual meeting with Zoning and Building reviewer. During the meeting staff will determine if there is a proposed change of use and/or occupancy; the proposed use is allowed; and if additional building or zoning documents are required with submittal. Please visit our Commercial Permits: Change of Use webpage for submittal requirements.

Prepare Application Materials

The below application forms and supporting documents are required for this project type:

  1. Complete the Non-Residential Permit Application.
  2. Provide a proposed suite layout (for multi-tenant buildings only).
  3. For water meter and/or sewer service requests, you must fill out the Utility Connection portion of the Permit Application and identify all meter sizes or the size of the sewer service requested.
  4. If new utility stubs are requested, you must fill out the Utility Stub portion of the application.
  5. Provide a completed Building Code Summary Sheet.
  6. Provide the following supplemental form if necessary: 
    1. Third Party Inspections
    2. Alternate Material, Design, or Methods

Submittal Instructions

At this step, your application materials should be ready to assemble. Please take note of the instructions below, applications that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted:

  1. Only PDF file types will be accepted unless other file types (such as image, Excel, or CAD) are specifically called for as part of the application submittal process.
  2. .ZIP files are not allowed.
  3. Only one file should be associated with each discrete document included with the application package. For example, if an application requires 1) an application form, 2) a set of plans, and 3) a calculation report, the applicant should transmit these as three separate files.
  4. Digital plan sets meet the following requirements:
    - all PDF sheets must be the same size 
    - minimum size 18"x 24" and cannot exceed size 36"x 24" 
    - plans cannot be secured or locked

Tips for Submitting Commercial Permit PDF Files:

  1. One PDF file containing a non-residential permit application.
  2. One PDF file containing commercial drawings.
  3. Submit one PDF file with all other supporting documents (truss drawings, calculations, etc.).

Please submit via Permit and Development Portal and follow the steps in our helpful online application guide. All application forms and supporting documents must be attached as PDFs. Applicants may add all relevant information and update plans and documents in the portal for the reviews to start quickly.

Project Review and Permitting

Applicants will be notified by email when a project is processed. Standard review times are available to view online. Plan review comments can be viewed any time via a registered account in the Permit and Development Portal.

Plans that are ready for permit issuance but have incomplete contractor information will be kept at the Planning and Development Customer Service Center for up to six months. After six months, the plans will be considered invalid, and the application will be voided. An administrative fee may be incurred when projects are voided.

Please visit Final Review for more information on final approval and permit issuance requirements. 

Inspections can be scheduled via the permit portal.

Paying Fees

A Plan Review Fee is due prior to project review. All other permit fees are due when permits are ready for pick up.

The Development Fee Guide provides a detailed list of specific development fees.

  • It is recommended that fees be paid via the Permit Portal.
  • All major credit cards and eCheck payments are accepted.
  • If you have questions, please contact the Customer Service Center.

A fee calculator may be used to obtain an estimate of some building and trade permit fees.

Contact

 

Planning and Development
Customer Service Center
Customer Request Form
919-996-2495
 

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Lead Department:
Planning and Development
Service Categories:
Permits - Commercial