Permits Checklist

Universal Requirements (All Businesses)

Permit	Agency	Cost	Link
Business Registration	NC Secretary of State	$125	sosnc.gov
Federal EIN	IRS	Free	irs.gov
Sales Tax Number	NC Dept of Revenue	Free	ncdor.gov
City Business License	N/A (not required in NC)	N/A	See note below

No City Business License Required

NC law ended local privilege license taxes in 2015. You do not need a general city business license. Specialized permits (alcohol, peddlers) may still apply.

Building & Construction

Permit Required

No person shall erect, construct, enlarge, alter, repair, move, or demolish any building without first obtaining a permit.

Permit	When Required	Contact
Building Permit	Any construction/renovation	910-433-1707
Electrical Permit	Any electrical work	910-433-1707
Plumbing Permit	Any plumbing work	910-433-1707
Mechanical Permit	HVAC installation	910-433-1707

Apply Online: Fayetteville E-Development Portal

New to the portal? Watch the city’s walkthroughs

The City of Fayetteville has published short training videos covering each step of the e-Development portal — submitting a project, uploading documents, drawing a basic site plan, and more. See the IDTplans Portal Guide for a step-by-step summary with links to each video.

Hiring a contractor for the build-out?

North Carolina requires a licensed General Contractor for any project where the total contract value is $40,000 or more (per N.C. Gen. Stat. § 87-1, as amended by Session Law 2023-108). Verify any contractor’s license at nclbgc.org before you sign or pay a deposit. Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC subs need their own state licenses regardless of project size.

See the full Hiring a Build-Out Contractor guide for license verification, contract red flags, and lien protections.

Historic District Requirements

If your business is in the Historic District, additional approval is required:

Requirement	Description	Contact
Certificate of Appropriateness (COA)	Required for exterior changes	910-433-1457
Exterior Paint Approval	Color approval required	910-433-1457
Signage Review	Design must meet guidelines	910-433-1457

Check Your Location

Not sure if you’re in the Historic District? Contact Historic Resources at 910-433-1457.

Signage

Permit	Details	Contact
Sign Permit	Required for ALL outdoor signage	910-433-1705
Insurance	City must be named as additional insured	-
Zoning Approval	Required for all signs	910-433-1707

Ground signs 6+ feet or pole signs require building permit.

Food Service

Permit	Agency	Details
Food Service Permit	Cumberland County Health	Required for all food service
Food Handler Certification	NC DHHS	At least one certified employee
Grease Trap Permit	City of Fayetteville	If cooking with grease

Alcohol Sales

Permit	Agency	Cost	Details
ABC Retail Permit	NC ABC Commission	$400-$1,000	abc.nc.gov
Mixed Beverage	NC ABC Commission	$1,000	Bars, restaurants
Beer/Wine Only	NC ABC Commission	$400	Limited selection

Requirements:

• Must be 21+ to apply
• Food sales must be 30%+ of revenue (restaurants)
• Alcohol served 7am-2am only (no Sunday before noon)
• No happy hours allowed (full-day specials only)

Contact: 919-779-0700 or abc.nc.gov

Outdoor Dining & Merchandise

Permit	Fee	Requirements
Historic Downtown Outdoor Use Permit	$60/year	Site plan with 5-foot sidewalk clearance required

See the full Outdoor Use Permit Guide for step-by-step application instructions.

Contact Development Services: 910-433-1707

Fire & Life Safety

The Fire Marshal’s Office inspects new and existing commercial occupancies. Certain uses require operational permits.

Requirement	Details
Occupancy Inspection	Required for new businesses and change of use
Operational Permits	Required for certain uses (assembly, hazardous materials)
Fire Suppression	Required for commercial kitchens
Egress Review	Emergency exits must meet code

Fire Marshal’s Office: fayettevillenc.gov/fire-inspection

Schedule Early

Fire inspections are required before your Certificate of Occupancy is issued. Schedule your inspection 2-4 weeks before your target opening date.

Food Trucks & Mobile Vendors

Requirement	Details
Mobile Food Vendor Permit	City of Fayetteville
Commissary Agreement	Must operate from licensed commissary
Fire Inspection	Fire suppression, gas lines, extinguishers
Parking Permit	Location-specific
Health Permit	Cumberland County Health Dept

See: Vendors & Pop-ups Guide

Permit Expiration Warning

Don’t Let Permits Expire

• Permits expire 6 months after issuance if work hasn’t started
• Permits expire if work stops for 12 months
• Expired permits require new application and fees

Helpful Downloads & Links

Quick access to common permit applications and resources:

Document	Link
Change of Tenant/Use Application	Download PDF
Change of Occupancy Consumer Guide	Download PDF
Permit Applications Index	View All
Sign Permit (Fillable)	Download PDF
Historic District Design Guidelines	Download PDF
Outdoor Business Use Application	Download PDF
Temporary Encroachment Permit	Download PDF
Mobile Food Unit Application	Download PDF
Commercial Corridor/Exterior Grant	Download PDF

Verify Before Submitting

Links and requirements can change. Always confirm current forms and requirements with the issuing department before submitting applications.