Home › Data › Plan copy requirements › North Carolina

North Carolina building permit plan submission requirements (2026)

How 5 large North Carolina cities take construction plans, based on each building department's own pages: 3 digital only, 1 paper not stated, 1 not grouped. None of the 5 state a number of plan sets, 2 state a sheet size and 5 state a seal or signature rule.

Snapshot: October 19, 2026. “Not stated” means the cited pages do not publish the rule. Confirm current requirements with the permit office before ordering.

Fields a city's official pages don't state are left off its card. Missing means not published on the pages we checked, not that no rule exists; ask the permit office.

At a glance

Charlotte (Mecklenburg County permits), NC

Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement (LUESA) · Census 2025 rank 14 · ID USPPR-014

How they take plans

Digital portal; paper not stated

Exact quotes and source

“The RTAC Electronic Plan Submittal program (RTAC-EPS), implemented in January 2015, is designed for one-time residential build projects, or custom-built residential projects, that require plan review.” Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement: Residential Plan Review · Source date: no date shown

“All plans and documents must be submitted in PDF.” Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement: Residential Plan Review · Source date: no date shown

Submission details

digital portal; paper not stated

Portal

RTAC Electronic Plan Submittal (RTAC-EPS)

Sheet size

Residential: min 17×11 for projects over 500 sq ft; min 8.5×11 under 500 sq ft; landscape, to scale

“Drawings shall be legible, orientated as Landscape & formatted to scale on 17" X 11" minimum page size for projects over 500 sq. ft. and 8 1/2 X 11" minimum page size for projects under 500 sq. ft.” Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement: Residential Plan Review · Source date: no date shown

Scale

Formatted to scale (no minimum stated)

Seal / signature

Preferred seal location upper 2/3 of title block

“The preferred professional seal location is in the upper 2/3 of the title block.” Mecklenburg County Code Enforcement: Residential Plan Review · Source date: no date shown

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Raleigh, NC

City of Raleigh Planning and Development · Census 2025 rank 39 · ID USPPR-039

How they take plans

Digital only (stated)

Exact quotes and source

“Apply via the Permit and Development Portal and follow the steps in our helpful online application guide.” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

“All application forms and supporting documents must be attached as PDFs.” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

“Submit your completed application and supporting documents to downtownDS@raleighnc.gov.” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

“Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted:” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

Submission details

digital-only (stated)

Portal

Permit and Development Portal (small accessory structures by email)

Paper rule

Additions and accessory structures over 12 ft: portal, all documents as PDFs; accessory structures under 12 ft: PDFs by email to downtownDS@raleighnc.gov. 'Applications that do not meet these criteria will not be accepted'

Sheet size

Minimum 8.5×11

“Minimum allowable sheet size: 8.5 x 11” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

Scale

Minimum 1/4 in = 1 ft (architectural scale)

“Minimum allowable scale: 1/4 inch = 1 foot” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

Seal / signature

When a seal is required it must include a dated, wet signature of the design professional

“When the seal of a design professional is required, the seal must include a dated, wet signature of the design professional.” Raleigh: Accessory Structures and Additions · Source date: no date shown

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Greensboro, NC

City of Greensboro Engineering & Inspections, Development Services · Census 2025 rank 67 · ID USPPR-067

Paper rule

All plans as unprotected PDF, all sheets in one PDF (page content pending update for the new Plan Review & Tracking system) [outdated source: no date shown; page says 'Content below will be updated soon to reflect the new Plan Review & Tracking system']

Exact quote and source

“Submit all plans in unprotected pdf format. Include all sheets in a single pdf document.” Greensboro: Electronic Building Plan Review Submittal · Outdated source: no date shown; page says 'Content below will be updated soon to reflect the new Plan Review & Tracking system'

Scale

Accurate and drawn to scale (no minimum stated) [outdated source: no date shown; page says 'Content below will be updated soon to reflect the new Plan Review & Tracking system']

“A plan must be accurate, drawn to scale, and sufficiently complete to describe the project scope” Greensboro: Electronic Building Plan Review Submittal · Outdated source: no date shown; page says 'Content below will be updated soon to reflect the new Plan Review & Tracking system'

Seal / signature

Each page bears the preparer's name, address and signature; licensed design professional's visible seal and signature [outdated source: no date shown; page says 'Content below will be updated soon to reflect the new Plan Review & Tracking system']

“Each page must bear the name, address and signature of the preparer, and when prepared by a licensed design professional, must bear the visible seal and signature of the design professional in charge.” Greensboro: Electronic Building Plan Review Submittal · Outdated source: no date shown; page says 'Content below will be updated soon to reflect the new Plan Review & Tracking system'

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Durham, NC

City of Durham, Plans Review (durhamnc.gov) · Census 2025 rank 70 · ID USPPR-070

How they take plans

Digital only (stated)

Exact quotes and source

“All building plan reviews will be submitted digitally through the Dplans site. We will no longer accept paper plans. (Commercial and New Residential)” Durham: Plans Review Requirements · Source date: no date shown

“All forms and construction drawings shall be in the PDF format.” Durham: Plans Review Requirements · Source date: no date shown

“All PDF files should be 200 MB or less while maintaining legibility.” Durham: Plans Review Requirements · Source date: no date shown

Submission details

Commercial and new residential: digital-only through Dplans; paper plans no longer accepted

Paper rule

Commercial and new residential: all building plan reviews submitted digitally through Dplans; paper plans no longer accepted; drawings as PDF, 200 MB or less per file

Seal / signature

Residential: scaled plot plan sealed by an NC registered surveyor when the footprint is added to or changed (no design-professional seal rule on this page)

“Scaled plot plan sealed by a NC registered surveyor if there is addition to or change of footprint on parcel. (residential)” Durham: Plans Review Requirements · Source date: no date shown

Last checked October 19, 2026.

Winston-Salem, NC

City of Winston-Salem / Forsyth County Inspections · Census 2025 rank 90 · ID USPPR-089

How they take plans

Digital only (stated)

Exact quotes and source

“All commercial plan review submittals must be submitted electronically.” Winston-Salem: GeoCivix Digital Submission Portal · Source date: no date shown

“No new paper plans will be accepted.” Winston-Salem: GeoCivix Digital Submission Portal · Source date: no date shown

“All residential building permit applications must be submitted electronically.” Winston-Salem: GeoCivix Digital Submission Portal · Source date: no date shown

Submission details

Commercial plan review: electronic only, no new paper plans; residential applications electronic

Paper rule

Commercial plan review submittals electronic only (no new paper plans); residential applications electronic

Seal / signature

Projects of 3,000+ sq ft or valued at $200,000+ need an architectural seal and signature (NC General Statutes)

“Per NC General Statutes , projects that are 3,000+ square feet or valued at $200,000+ require an architectural seal and signature.” Winston-Salem: Commercial Permits (Commercial Plan Review Submittals) · Source date: no date shown

Approved set on the jobsite

Stamped approved plans released for the applicant to print and have on the job

“we will release the stamped approved plans for you to print and have on the job.” Winston-Salem: Commercial Permits (Commercial Plan Review Submittals) · Source date: no date shown

Last checked October 19, 2026.

How to use this data

Confirm with the permit office before you submit. A missing field means the official pages we checked don’t state it. Submission groups and method are explained on the national page.

Downloads

North Carolina: CSV · JSON. All 124 cities: CSV · JSON.

Cite this data

License: CC BY 4.0. Attribution: Print My Plans, printmyplans.com. The license covers our compilation; quoted text stays attributed to each city.

Corrections: support@printmyplans.com

Print My Plans (2026). US Plan Submission Requirements: 124 Large US Cities (checked 2026-10-19). printmyplans.com

Need paper sets printed?

Print My Plans prints plan sets from your PDF in sheet sizes from 17×22 to 36×48. Orders placed by 3 PM ET on business days ship the same day. Delivery depends on your destination and the shipping option selected at checkout; transit times are estimates.

Upload your plans

Order by 3 PM ET, ships same day. Delivery timing depends on the shipping service and destination. See the terms for business-day and holiday details.