Last week, we discussed why you need a survey. One of the reasons to get their land surveyed is because this is often required to build a fence. Depending on where you live, it's likely you may need a building permit to erect a fence. These requirements differ depending on your exact locale, and you should check local permitting offices. 
Here we discuss fences specific to Raleigh, and you can safely assume these rules or very similar ones are in effect in Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, etc. If your home is in another area, we strongly advise checking with your local permitting office before erecting your fence to avoid future complications.
Here we discuss fences specific to Raleigh, and you can safely assume these rules or very similar ones are in effect in Cary, Durham, Chapel Hill, etc. If your home is in another area, we strongly advise checking with your local permitting office before erecting your fence to avoid future complications.Steps Prior to Submitting an Application to Erect a Fence
Before you submit your application to erect a fence, be sure that the following is complete. First, register here on the Raleigh city website. All contractors must be registered here as well if you are using one. If you are a homeowner as a contractor you must fill out a homeowner exemption affidavit. Next, make sure that if you are in a historic district, you submit a Certificate of Appropriateness to the Raleigh Historic Development Commission (RHDC), which will need to approve the project prior to submission.
Additionally, if your property contains a private well or septic tank, you will need approval from Wake County Environmental Services. If your request contains a variance, you need approval from the Board of Adjustment. If you do not have a survey, this is also the time to have your home surveyed or obtain a copy of a map from the Durham or Wake Register of Deeds. Lastly, check if your property is subject to Residential Infill Compatibility standards, here.
Preparing and Submitting Your Materials
Complete these applications, Residential Permit Application and Residential Site Plan Checklist.Provide the city with a diagram of your fence, including a survey. Your survey must either be original or a certified supplemental copy. Then submit your application making sure that the application conforms to the following format.
1. PDF File
2. Is not in .Zip format
3. Is under 30MB, unless using Dropbox or Google Drive.
4. Submit one PDF for permit application, one of the residential site plan checklist, and one more PDF with other supporting documents including survey and diagram.
You are almost there, then you Email these PDFS to DowntownDS@raleighnc.gov.
Review Permitting and Payment
When you submit the application, you will be notified by application. Then you will need to submit payment. A guide provides a list of specific development fees and the customer service center payments or you may pay via the permit portal. Payment types may include Cash, MasterCard, Visa, or check made payable to the City of Raleigh. You can view the wait time online anytime and there is a help portal, here.
As you can see, the steps required to erect a fence are not as clear as you might think and there are definite benefits in working with a licensed and insured contractor who has experience with the permitting process. The risk in erecting structures, including fences, can be heavy fines and the work in some cases must be removed, incurring high costs. Be sure to follow these steps.
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