Permits and Inspections FAQs

To apply for a building permit you must complete the application and submit it to the Inspections Department. When applying for a building permit you must provide a plot plan showing where on the property the structure will be located. In the event that city water and sewer will not be available, you must supply an approved well and septic permit from the County Health Department.

Nearly all Building Permits require a Zoning Permit that must be approved by the Planning Department.

Permit applications may be emailed to inspections@cityofmebane.com or dropped off at the Planning and Inspections office located 102 South 5th Street. The application fees must be paid and a permit issued prior to beginning any work.

To schedule an inspection or to pick up an application, call the office of the Building Inspector at (919) 563-9990. Inspections must be requested the day before between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The permit number will be required to schedule the inspection. The inspectors are usually available between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m., and between 4:30 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. for any questions. Inspections are made in the morning and afternoon, but a specific time will not be given. If you receive the voicemail system, please leave a message indicating the job name, the address of the job, and the type of inspection.

For residential permits, a plot plan at a readable scale on letter or legal sized paper (if needed) is required, and a building permit application must be filled out and submitted to our office. The application will require contractors’ names, addresses, and state license numbers. It is recommended that a drawing or sketch be submitted with the building permit package. For commercial permits, a completed building permit application package, two sets of complete drawings, one site plan, and a completed Appendix B are required.

Permit fees are based on two components. Building permit fees and utility fees (If needed). See Fee Schedule for cost of your project.

Any project where the cost of construction exceeds $40,000 dollars. Exception: A homeowner who lives in the home and plans to live there for 12 months may do his own work without a license. A Home Owner Exemption Affidavit is required with the permit. Permit and inspections are still required to determine that the work is in compliance with state and local codes.

Sheds and other accessory structures such as detached garages that exceed 144 square feet require a building permit and a zoning permit. Permit applications must include the following:

1. A sketch or plot plan of the property with the location and dimensions of the proposed shed and the setback distances to all property lines measured
2. A description of the proposed shed that includes the material and dimensions (length, width and height)

A residential accessory structure that does not exceed 12′ in any dimension can be constructed without a building permit, but will still require a zoning permit. Planning and Zoning Staff will review the application to ensure that it meets the requirements for accessory buildings and structures per section 4-2 B of the Mebane Unified Development Ordinance.

Inspectors are in the office between 8:00-8:30 in the AM and 4:30-5:00 in the PM.

You will need to submit a zoning permit. Permit applications must include the following:

1. A sketch or plot plan of the property with the location and dimensions of the proposed fence, and the distance to property lines measured
2. A description of the height and material of the proposed fence

Planning and Zoning Staff will review the application to ensure that it meets the fence requirements of Section 4-2-D of the Mebane Unified Development Ordinance.

A residential accessory structure that does not exceed 12′ in any dimension can be constructed without having to meet the residential building code requirements. A permit is required to approve the location for meeting the setbacks of the zoning in which the structure is located.