About PDS

There are several municipalities located within Wake County and the Wake County Planning Department only has jurisdiction for properties located in unincorporated portion of the county. To check the jurisdiction, go to iMAPS and enter the address or PIN in the property search field. Look under the property search information section to the right and locate "Jurisdiction". This section will tell you if the property is in Wake County's permitting jurisdiction or one of the municipalities within Wake County. Whichever permitting agency is listed is the permitting agency you will need to proceed through.

Setbacks and other design requirements are contained in the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), which can be accessed by going to Municode.

Wake County developed a simple checklist that provides guidance.

Pre-submittal meetings are an important step in applying for commercial (non-residential), regular subdivision and care facility projects in the Wake County Planning jurisdiction. While not mandatory, these meetings are a great way to talk through a proposal and get feedback from all departments that regulate development.

To schedule a pre-submittal meeting, create an account on the Permit Portal and follow the steps for the type of pre-submittal meeting you need to schedule. After submitting your request, a planner will reach out to set-up the meeting. More information regarding the types of pre-submittal meetings and requirements can be found here.

"The bona fide farm exemption protects agricultural operations from land use zoning regulations in North Carolina counties and municipal extraterritorial jurisdiction. But, the bona fide farm exemption is not a free pass for any activity or development to occur on property where agriculture occurs." (UNC School of Government)

Under North Carolina General Statutes §160D-903, a bona fide farm is excluded from zoning regulations. The bona fide farm exemption does not exempt the property from regulations such as stormwater management and well and septic requirements.
 

How do I get a bona fide farm exemption?
Wake County Planning staff will determine if the use qualifies for the exemption. Please contact staff prior to submitting an application. Once staff has communicated that a proposal meets farm exempt criteria a Land Use Simple Application should be submitted through the Permit Portal. The Farm Exempt Supplemental  form lists four types of documents that can be used to qualify. We suggest also including extra evidence—like photos of the property, receipts, or purchase contracts—to help support your application. Please contact us with any questions at 919-856-6335  or Wake.Planning@wake.gov

Is there a fee for a bona fide farm application?
Yes, there is a $50 permit fee. Any additional permits required as part of that review will have additional fees.

Do I still need to get a trade permit if I am deemed a Bona Fide Farm?
Yes, any farm exempt building or structure which has electrical would require an electrical trade permit through Wake County Building Inspections. The trade permit would be applied for after the Land Use Simple permit is approved for the farm exemption. The Land Use Simple permit would need to be referenced in the trade permit application.

Permitting a home occupation or a home-based business is a relatively simple administrative procedure in Wake County's unincorporated area. 

First, review the county’s regulations on Home Occupations to make sure what you want to do is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. Please note, remote work is not considered a home occupation. Also, check with your subdivision’s Homeowner’s Association (HOA) for additional regulations and approvals.

Call us to be connected to a staff member who can answer your questions and help set you on the right track. You may need other permits for construction, septic, or food preparation and we can connect you with the right staff who will be of assistance.

In addition to any required permits related to construction, if applicable, there is an application. Submit the application through the Permit Portal.

Zoning Verification Letters are provided through Wake County Planning Department for properties located in Wake County's jurisdiction. For instruction on how to verify if your address is in Wake County's jurisdiction, see the "What is my jurisdiction?" FAQ on this page.

Required Documentation
You will need to complete a Zoning Verification Request form as part of the application submittal.

Submit an online Application

• Application Type
  While logged into the Permit Portal, click on the "Apply" button in the top ribbon and under the Plans application section select the Land Use Permit - Simple application. This application is used for a variety of requests. Please complete all steps with the necessary information.
   
• Location Section
  If using the property address for the location, only enter the street number and street name, leaving off any suffix (road, court, lane, etc.) Example: 1234 Smith St. should be entered as 1234 Smith.
  If there is no address, use the Parcel Identification Number (PIN). This 10-digit number can be found on iMAPS or Wake County Real Estate Data website.

• Type Section
  In the description box, please write an efficient description. For example: Zoning Verification Letter.
   
• Contacts/More Information
  Fill in all required fields to the best of your knowledge.
   
• Attachments
  The "attachments" section will prompt you to upload a site plan. Since a site plan is not required for a Zoning Verification Letter, this is where you attach the Zoning Request Form.

Review and Submit
Please note there is a fee for the Zoning Verification Letter and you will be prompted to pay when you submit the application. Review time can vary depending on the complexity of the request and the department's workload. Check the permit portal periodically for changes in status and updates. Feel free to reach out to staff with any questions.

Most cities and towns in North Carolina have plans for transportation investment. Other investments are coordinated by CAMPO or NCDOT. 

Most cities and towns in Wake County have support services for local public transit.  Non municipal trips are provided by GoWake. Regional services are coordinated by GoTriangle, and intercity rail is provided by NCDOT (NC By Train).  

In accordance with state law, NCDOT maintains all public roads in unincorporated county jurisdiction. You can check the jurisdiction of your road by looking at NCDOT’s secondary road database or this interactive map. Please note, the map is updated quarterly.

If your road is not a legal private road and is not listed in NCDOT’s database, it may be an orphan road. See more information on orphan roads here.

Extraterritorial Jurisdiction, or ETJ, is a planning tool enabled by the North Carolina General Assembly that allows municipalities to regulate planning and zoning decisions outside of their corporate limits. So, for example, if your property is in the Town of Apex’s ETJ and you wish to make any improvements to it, you would be required to follow the Town of Apex’s development ordinances and permitting procedures. However, for non-development-related matters, your property is considered part of Wake County’s jurisdiction. You will never pay municipal taxes if you’re in the ETJ, nor will your property ever be involuntarily annexed by any municipality. For specific questions about how being in the ETJ affects your property, contact the Planning Department.

In county land use plans, Multi-Use Districts (sometimes called Activity Centers) identify the most appropriate location for commercial development to help serve the daily needs of the surrounding area. In this role, the Multi-Use Districts are used by the county to guide decisions on rezoning requests and development permits.

If you wish to move or remove a grave, please contact Keith Lankford. Mr. Lankford will instruct you on the state requirements on proper grave removals.

Keith.Lankford@wake.gov

919-856-7569