Holly Springs permits are filed in the town's CityView portal; building permits take 10 to 15 days. Fences need no permit. Development Services: 311 or 919-577-3111.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. Facts on this page come from the Town of Holly Springs Development Services pages linked below.

The Town of Holly Springs Development Services department handles planning, zoning, building permits and inspections, code enforcement and development review for the town and for its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ), the ring of land just outside town limits where the town sets the zoning.

Who to call

  • Development Services: 311 inside town limits, 919-577-3111 from outside; developmentservices@hollyspringsnc.gov
  • Active building permit questions: dspermitting@hollyspringsnc.gov
  • Development submittals: the intake team at dsintake@hollyspringsnc.gov
  • ETJ questions: 919-557-3908
  • Office: Town Hall, 128 S. Main St.
  • Before you dig: N.C. 811, dial 811 or 800-632-4949

Do you need a permit?

Most work that adds square footage needs a permit before it starts, the town says on its home improvement page. If an addition was built without one and you later sell, it has to be permitted and inspected before closing.

Project Permit?
Deck, screen porch, addition or alteration Yes: building plans and a plot plan
Shed or accessory building Yes: see the sheds page
Pool or hot tub Yes: see the pools page
Driveway widening Yes: see the driveway page
Fence Usually no; some walls and retaining walls do
Business run from home Home occupation registration
Block party that closes a street Street use permit

Every permit needs a plot plan: a drawing or survey of the lot that shows property lines, existing buildings and how far the new work sits from each line.

Fences

The town does not require a permit for fences, but they must meet the Unified Development Ordinance, according to its fence rules:

  • Front yard: 4 feet, wood or vinyl picket, brick or ornamental only.
  • Side and rear yards: 6 feet; chain link is allowed here.
  • The finished side faces out, and nothing may go in the right of way or a public easement.

Neighborhood covenants may be stricter, and the town leaves those to the owner.

How to apply and track a permit

  1. Register for an account in the town’s CityView portal.
  2. Choose “Apply for a Permit” under construction or UDO permits and upload your documents.
  3. Pay the fees from the town’s fiscal 2027 fee workbook, which runs July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027.
  4. Follow the status in the permit tracker.

Typical turnaround is 10 to 15 days for building permits and about five to 10 business days for zoning permits, the town says. The tracker holds every permit filed since September 2009.

Zoning and maps

The town’s maps page links the interactive zoning map, searchable by address, along with the development activity map, the land use plan and the planning jurisdiction map that shows town limits and the ETJ. The zoning rules themselves are in the Unified Development Ordinance, in effect since March 1, 2022.

The Town Council voted June 16 to put a moratorium of up to 12 months on approving any new data centers in town.

Who decides

  • Planning Board: nine residents, eight from town and one from the ETJ. It recommends to the Town Council on rezonings and ordinance changes and meets at 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month in Council Chambers. It holds no public hearings; written comments go to DSIntake@hollyspringsnc.gov by 4 p.m. the Friday before, according to the Planning Board page.
  • Board of Adjustment: rules on variances and appeals of staff zoning decisions, with sworn testimony only. It meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Monday of the month; its October meeting is canceled. Appeals go to Superior Court, according to the board’s page.
  • Town Council: makes the final decision on rezonings at its 7 p.m. meetings on the first and third Tuesdays at Town Hall.

Coming up

From the town’s public hearings page:

  • Tuesday, Oct. 20, Town Council: a quasi-judicial hearing on the Chandler Crossing development plan (26-DP-01), and a decision on the Daventry rezoning (25-REZ-05).
  • Tuesday, Oct. 27, Planning Board: recommendation on the Twin Springs rezoning (25-REZ-10).
  • Tuesday, Nov. 17, Town Council: decision on the Twin Springs rezoning.

To speak at a hearing, sign up with the town clerk before the meeting starts. Written testimony is due by 5 p.m. the Monday before, through the town’s public hearing form.

Code enforcement

Tall grass over 12 inches, junked or abandoned vehicles and trash piles are handled by the town’s code compliance staff. Report them through 311.

What this means for you

  • Plan a deck or addition? Budget 10 to 15 days for the permit before work starts.
  • Call 811 before you set fence posts.
  • Track rezonings near you on the development activity map before the hearing date.

Related: Holly Springs home prices and our weekly real estate transfers.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a permit to build a deck in Holly Springs?

Yes. Decks, screen porches, additions and alterations need a town permit, filed through the CityView portal with building plans and a plot plan showing setbacks.

Do I need a permit for a fence in Holly Springs?

The town does not require a permit for most fences, though some walls and retaining walls need one. Front-yard fences are limited to 4 feet and rear and side fences to 6 feet.

How long does a building permit take in Holly Springs?

The town lists typical turnaround times of 10 to 15 days for building permits and about five to 10 business days for zoning (UDO) permits.

When does the Holly Springs Planning Board meet?

At 7 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month in the Council Chambers at Town Hall, 128 S. Main St. The next meeting is Tuesday, Oct. 27.

Does Holly Springs regulate property outside town limits?

Yes, in its extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). ETJ owners follow town zoning and get permits from the town, but pay no town taxes and cannot vote in town elections.