Do I need a remodel permit in Cary, NC? Kitchens, baths and walls: what the Town exempts, plan review and finish rates

Where the Town draws the line

The Town's Residential Permits FAQ (read 23 October 2026) starts from "A permit is required anytime work is done on a building or structure, or the systems serving the structure", and says "Remodeling, repairs, alterations, decks, porches, and many other projects require a residential building permit". Its two lists, applied to a kitchen or bath:

The island line is the one that surprises people: it is cabinetry, but the Town lists it as permit work while ordinary cabinets are exempt. Questions go to 311, or (919) 469-4046 from outside Cary.

Plan review

Remodels go through plan review. The FAQ says "The plan review process for one- and two-family homes normally takes one to two weeks" and "The regular review cycle is approximately seven business days"; "your plot plan is checked for compliance with zoning requirements", and contractors' licenses are verified. "Be sure to include all of your contractors' names, addresses and state license numbers." If all is approved, the Town contacts you to pick up the permit.

The Town says "Building Permit Fees are figured based on square footage" and points to its Fees Estimation Guide. We could not open that guide to confirm the current alteration rate, so we give no figure; ask 311 before you budget.

Who can pull it

A licensed general contractor for a job of $40,000 or more: North Carolina's general contractor law starts at that value (G.S. 87-1, Chapter 87); check the license and its limitation on the NCLBGC search. The electrician and plumber inside a smaller job still need their own state licenses (Cary contractor license lookup).

You, on your own home. "Yes, an owner of the property can do their own building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work"; "The owner does not need to be licensed", but "the property must be the owner's primary residence for at least 12 months after completion of the work". A flip does not qualify.

Inspections and expiry

• Which inspections: "determined by the plan review staff and listed on the permit documents at issuance", so read the permit card.
• Booking: in Building Permits Online, at Town Hall (316 N. Academy St.), or by phone on 311.
• Expiry: "A permit is active for six months without any activity, or one year after the last inspection"; starting over means a new permit "with the fees doubled" (Residential Inspections Information).
• Done means certified: after all required inspections pass, a Certificate of Compliance goes to the contractor and the owner.

What 1,857 Cary remodel permits show

The Cary remodel market is fragmented: 60.1% of the 626 firms filed a single permit in three years, and only 20 filed ten or more. The busiest in the 12 months to September 2026 was EZ Pro Construction Group, LLC, with 79 permits. The usual filed value of $40,000 sits right at the $40,000 general contractor line, so ask any bidder near it for their NCLBGC license number. Plan about three months from issue to final. Prices by home value: Cary remodel cost.

See every Cary remodeler by permits finaled →

Related

Other places' rules: do I need a permit for a home remodel, a kitchen remodel and a bathroom remodel. The checklist: hiring a remodeling contractor; national prices: home remodel cost; local prices: Cary home improvement costs. Records: Cary building permit search; additions have their own compare list; counts by year: Cary permit statistics.

What this does not tell you

Our remodel category combines remodels and repairs, so its usual value is not a kitchen price. A recent permit may simply not be finaled yet. License status is not on our Cary pages.