Commercial Permits

Apply for a Commercial Permit

When are commercial permits required?

Commercial zoning and building permits are required for any non-residential project consisting of construction, installation, repair, remodel, alteration, and/or demolition of:

  • Structures / Buildings
  • Upfits for new businesses
  • Multifamily buildings
  • Condominiums
  • Office / Industrial
  • And more (check with us!)

For trade only work (HVAC, Electrical, plumbing), visit this page.

Questions? Email us at: permits@townofchapelhill.org.

Application Review Process

Zoning Review

We'll review all exterior work — including additions, sewer lines, demolitions, grading, etc. — to make sure it meets the setback, height, impervious surface, and land disturbance requirements of the Land Use Management Ordinance.

Building Review

Any building, construction, alteration, remodeling work with structural components requires a building permit. We review building plans to make sure they meet the residential building code.

Site Plan Requirements

There are three levels of review for an Zoning Compliance Permit(DOCX, 361KB)

  • A Limited Review Administrative Zoning Compliance Permit is for the following types of work that require a limited staff review:
    • Food truck
    • Change of use
    • Soil boring
    • Tree work
    • Site lighting
    • Temporary event/sales
    • Exterior improvements related to Minor Works COA in a historic district
  • An Administrative Zoning Compliance Permit is for projects that only require staff review for exterior improvements, land-disturbing activity, and other types of work outlined in Section 4.9 of the Land Use Management Ordinance 
  • A Final Plans Zoning Compliance Permit for the construction of new developments with an active entitlement (Conditional Zoning District, Special Use Permit, Site Plan Approval)

What information is needed to apply? 

See Zoning Compliance Permit Application Requirements(PDF, 154KB) for more information. File size is limited to 100 MB for attachments. 

Supplemental document list if you know what you're looking for!

Site Plan Resources

Interactive GIS Map: use this map to see your property's zoning district.  You can also see if your property is within a Special Protection Area (historic district or resource conservation district).

Zoning Lookup Tool: use this tool to find the zoning district.

 

Building Plan Requirements

Commercial Plans

Construction drawings are drawn in plan and section views, providing specifications for structural elements and load paths. A full set of construction drawings should include the following: a footing/ foundation plan, floor system framing plan and roof framing plan and a wall sections at a minimum. Depending on the scope of the project, additional details may be requested. Some examples are below:

  • Architectural and structural work.
  • Detailed plumbing, mechanical, electrical drawings if included in project
  • Life safety sheet showing egress paths, travel distances, location, size and swing of all doors, exit signage, and location of lighting. Must be a scaled drawing.

Existing multifamily up fits would need to meet the requirements of Residential Projects

Building Permit Forms

Fees

Contact Us

Email permits@townofchapelhill.org with:

  • the project's address
  • your inquiry
  • the permit number, if you have one

Or call us at: 919-968-2718

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