Building Inspections & Permitting

Mission Statement

We are committed to providing the best service possible by way of prompt and courteous responses to the needs of those requiring the services of our permitting and inspection division. Our commitment extends to continually expanding our technical knowledge and to the modification of our procedures to best serve the building community and the citizens of the Town of Apex.

Primary Responsibilities

Our team enforces North Carolina State Building Codes in accordance with state law and Building Code Council requirements. Responsibilities include performing field inspections, reviewing and approving structural building plans, and providing guidance on state and local codes and ordinances to support safe, compliant construction.

Important Information & Resources

ePermits

ePermitLinkPublic

You can access the Public Information Search without any need for an account. You can search by permit number or address for inspection results/inspector information. Enter the last 6 digits of the permit number only or type in the address. All issued permits will display. You can open any permit to see general information and any inspection to see the inspection results.

Contractors

You can pay fees, check permit information and inspection results via the ePermit Contractor Access Portal.  You can also create and pay for your single-trade RESIDENTIAL permits. A permits specialist will issue your permit and attach the PDF to your permit.

Registration is required for contractor access.   If you need help creating or accessing an account, please submit this FORM.  For other issues or questions, call (919) 249-3418.  If you have not accessed the website before, please view the ePermits instructions.  

Please note: COMMERCIAL SINGLE TRADE permit applications have to be reviewed by our Planning Department prior to permit issuance. You may upload through the IDT portal; or fax your applications to the Permits Department at (919) 267-4912. We will forward the application to the Planning Department and contact you when the application has been approved.

IDT Plans   

We are currently accepting all permit applications for review through our IDT Plans portal:

**ALL applications require the same documents as you would submit at the Permits desk.

Please note: Payments are still made in the ePermits portal (see above).   IDT Opens in new window  

IDT info for contractors:         

Register for IDT 

  1. Visit the IDT website and click “Sign Up!” in the upper-right corner.
  2. Complete the online registration form.
  3. After submitting, you’ll receive an email with an activation link—click the link to activate your account.
  4. You’ll then receive a second email confirming your acceptance.
  5. Once confirmed, you can log in and access the electronic plan review system.

Upload Your Plans

Follow the Instructions (PDF) for uploading plans to IDT. Before you upload, please note:

  • Use the correct application form for your project type (applications are available on the Forms page).
  • Solar projects: Applications and instructions are available on our Solar page.

Typical upload format:

  • File 1: Application and required checklists
  • File 2: Plans
  • File 3: Any approvals from other departments (Planning, Soils & Erosion, etc.)

Need Assistance?

If you’re new to the IDT system or need help accessing project information, support is available:

IDT Support:

  • Phone: (520) 319-0988
  • Email: IDT Support
  • Assistance includes online training or one-on-one help

Town of Apex

  • Submit a help request or call (919) 249-3418

Remote Inspections

Remote inspections are available upon request for certain inspection types, in accordance with guidance from the NC Department of Insurance.

How it works:

  • When requesting a remote inspection, please upload all documentation normally required for an in-person inspection.
  • An inspector will contact you if additional information is needed or to schedule the video inspection.

Please note: Some inspections may not be eligible for remote review based on the project or video assessment. In these cases, the inspector may request additional documentation or require an in-person inspection.

Guidance Paper on Live Remote Inspections (PDF)

If you have questions, please feel free to reach out to our office at (919) 249-3418, or reach out to your inspector directly.

Publications
Check out our Publications Page to view our latest information for contractors and homeowners:

  • Engineer Inspection Report Procedures, v. 1.5, eff. 2/20/2018
  • Most Commonly Failed Inspection Items
  • Guide to Planning and Constructing an Attached or Self-Supported Deck
  • How to Finish an Attic or Basement
  • Learn How to Create a Plot Plan Utilizing Wake County’s iMAPS Feature

Notice of Inspection Changes

The Town of Apex no longer performs the following inspections: 

Concealed Insulation Inspections

The air barrier required in concealed areas will be inspected during rough-in inspection. Any code deficiencies found related to the insulation/air barriers will be corrected and may required the removal of tubs, showers, etc.

Brick or Stone Veneer Inspections

All lintels that are required to be bolted to the framing for support shall not be covered by any exterior wall covering before approval. The bolted lintels will be inspected during the rough-in inspection.

For Concealed Insulation and Brick or Stone Veneer Inspections the effective date for the above are for framing inspections on or after September 5th NOT the date the permit was issued.

Conditional Power and Mechanical Inspections

These inspections will only be performed upon request by the contractor. If you want to schedule these inspections the Conditional Utility Request form must be completed and on file at the Permits desk.

These inspections will not be scheduled unless the applicable inspections listed above the conditional inspections on the permit card have been approved.

The Conditional Power and Mechanical Inspections will be based on the date the permit is issued. Conditional Power and Mechanical inspections are optional for permits issued on or after September 5, 2016.