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Do I need a permit for concrete work in Winston-Salem?

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It depends on where the concrete goes. On your own property the answer is usually no: a patio, a walkway, or a driveway replaced in its existing footprint is routine flatwork, and NC law exempts residential work under 40,000 dollars from a building permit as long as it does not touch structure, plumbing, electrical, HVAC or roofing. The right of way is a different story. If any part of the job touches the strip between your property line and the street, which is where the driveway apron sits, the City of Winston-Salem requires a right-of-way permit before construction starts, and building there without one is a misdemeanor with the driveway subject to removal at the owner's expense. That permit is only issued to someone licensed and bonded for right-of-way work, so it is not one you can pull yourself, and the forms and stone base have to be inspected at least two working days before concrete goes down. Rules differ between the City of Winston-Salem, the surrounding towns, and unincorporated Forsyth County, so the honest move is to have the contractor confirm what applies to your exact address before the job is priced.

Updated Aug 26, 2026 · Winston-Salem Concrete Co, Winston-Salem, NC

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What usually does NOT need a permit

Everyday residential flatwork is generally straightforward. These are the jobs most Winston-Salem homeowners have done without a permit, though your address and any HOA can always add a rule.

Where a permit or approval can come in

The line falls wherever the work touches the public right of way, structure, or drainage. None of it should scare you off the job. It just means the paperwork and the inspection get handled before the pour instead of after.

Who should sort the permit out

The contractor doing the work should confirm what your address requires and handle any permit as part of the job, not leave it on you to discover afterward. Be wary of anyone who waves the question off entirely, and be wary of anyone who claims everything needs an expensive permit when it plainly does not. The right answer is specific to your lot, which is exactly why it gets checked before the price is set.

Common questions

Do I need a permit to replace my driveway?⌄
Usually not, if it stays in the same footprint. Replacing a driveway where it already is tends to be routine. It is widening it, changing where it meets the street, or altering drainage that can bring approval into it. Your contractor should confirm for your address.
Who pulls the permit, me or the contractor?⌄
The contractor doing the work should confirm what is required and handle it. A permit being needed is not a red flag; a contractor who cannot tell you whether one applies to your job is.
Does a retaining wall need a permit?⌄
Often, once it retains any real height. In North Carolina a wall over about 4 feet of exposed face generally needs an engineer's design, and that is usually where approval comes in. Lower landscape walls are frequently exempt. It depends on the height and the jurisdiction.

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