Bolthole Index

Wake County, North Carolina

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in the Town of Cary, North Carolina

The Town of Cary, North Carolina (Wake County) sets its own zoning through its Land Development Ordinance1 and adopts the North Carolina Building Code for buildings inside town limits2. Septic permits for Wake County properties come from Wake County's Onsite Water Protection Division, not the town3. Living in an RV is limited to two weeks4.

At a glance

Zoning
Yes: Cary's Land Development Ordinance sets the districts1
Building code
North Carolina Building Code adopted by reference2
Building permit
State law requires permits for most building work; Cary's own permit steps not confirmed5
RV as a residence
Generally prohibited; up to two weeks in a driveway or side or rear yard4
Tents as a residence
Prohibited6
Accessory dwelling
One per lot where the zoning tables allow it7
Septic
Wake County Onsite Water Protection for Wake County properties3
New wells
Town groundwater permit required inside Cary8

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Cary Department of Inspections and Permits

Enforces the building code inside Cary town limits

Septic permits

Wake County Onsite Water Protection

Septic and private well permits in Wake County

919-856-5700

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Cary means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Cary, NC have zoning, and what does it mean for RVs, lots and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Cary zones land inside its limits through the Land Development Ordinance, which establishes general-use districts1. The residential districts include R-80, R-40, R-20, R-12, R-8, TR and RMF9.

Dimensions depend on the district. In the R-12 district, the minimum lot area is 12,000 square feet and the minimum lot width is 80 feet, or 90 feet for a corner lot10. R-12 setbacks are at least 20 feet from other streets, 10 feet at the side and 25 feet at the rear11. R-12 buildings may be up to 35 feet tall12.

Living in a tent is prohibited in Cary, and so is living in an RV as a permanent or temporary home6. The one exception: an RV may be a temporary residence for two weeks if it sits in the driveway or a side or rear yard, no closer to the front of the lot than the house4.

Do you need a building permit in Cary, and who issues it?

North Carolina law bars starting construction, alteration or demolition without the permits the State Building Code requires, with limited exemptions for small jobs13. The Town of Cary adopts the North Carolina Building Code by reference for buildings inside town limits2, and its code names a director of inspections and permits as building official14.

We could not confirm Cary's own permit application steps or fee schedule. Call the Town of Cary Inspections and Permits department before you start, not Wake County's permit office, which serves unincorporated land15.

How do septic permits and wells work inside Cary?

Septic permits in North Carolina come from the local health department or, for certain systems, the state16. In Wake County that is Wake County Onsite Water Protection3. An improvement permit and construction authorization are generally required before building where no approved wastewater system serves the site17.

We could not confirm who permits septic for the parts of Cary outside Wake County, so ask Onsite Water Protection first.

Inside Cary, a property that needs a new well may have to connect to town water if a water line abuts or adjoins it18. A new facility drawing groundwater also needs a permit from the Town before construction8.

Can you build an accessory dwelling or tiny home in Cary?

Cary allows one accessory dwelling unit on a lot with a detached house, where its zoning tables permit it7. The unit needs at least one off-street parking space, and home occupations are prohibited inside it7. We could not confirm a separate tiny-home rule for Cary; ask the Town's planning staff.

What stays with Wake County, and what to check before you buy in Cary?

Wake County's planning office covers only land outside municipalities' planning jurisdictions19. For land outside Cary, see the Wake County page.

Before buying, confirm the parcel is inside Cary limits, check its zoning district and test water and septic options with Wake County. Wake County's effective property tax rate is 0.7%20.

Watch-outs

  • We could not confirm Cary's building permit application process, fees or owner-builder rules; ask the Town of Cary Inspections and Permits department14.
  • Septic permits are handled by the local health department or the state, not the town, so confirm which health department covers your parcel16.
  • An RV cannot be your home in Cary beyond a two-week stay4.

Sources

  1. Cary, NC Code of Ordinances and Land Development Ordinance (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Cary Code of Ordinances, Chapter 8: Buildings and Building Regulations (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  3. Wake County Onsite Water Protection (wake.gov)
  4. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 5: Use Regulations (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  5. 106.1 - Permit Required for Closed Crawl Space, quoted and re-checked
  6. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 5: Use Regulations (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  7. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 5: Use Regulations (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  8. Town of Cary Code of Ordinances, Chapter 36: Utilities (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  9. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 4: Zoning Districts (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  10. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 6: Dimensional Standards and Measurements (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  11. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 6: Dimensional Standards and Measurements (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  12. Town of Cary Land Development Ordinance, Chapter 6: Dimensional Standards and Measurements (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  13. G.S. 160D-1110. Building permits. (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  14. Town of Cary Department of Inspections and Permits (files.amlegal.com)
  15. Wake County Permits and Inspections (2026 county census)
  16. Wake County Ordinances that Create Criminal Offenses Pursuant to NCGS §14-4(a), quoted and re-checked
  17. Chapter 130A, Article 11. Wastewater systems, quoted and re-checked
  18. Town of Cary Code of Ordinances, Chapter 36: Utilities (Town of Cary), quoted and re-checked
  19. wake.gov, quoted and re-checked
  20. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Cary

Town of Cary’s own rules

  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings inside Cary town limits.

    • The adopted code is the North Carolina Building Code as amended from time to time.
    “The North Carolina Building Code as now or hereafter amended is adopted by reference.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Cary town limits.

    • The Land Development Ordinance is current through local ordinance 2025-CODE-02, passed and effective May 22, 2025.
    “The following general use zoning districts are hereby established:”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Zoning districts inside Cary town limits.

    • The published general-use districts include residential R-80, R-40, R-20, R-12, R-8, TR, and RMF, as well as listed non-residential districts.
    “Residential Districts R-80 Residential District Residential Districts R-40 Residential District Residential Districts R-20 Residential District Residential Districts R-12 Residential District Residential Districts R-8 Residential District Residential Districts TR Transitional Residential District Residential Districts RMF Multi-Family Residential District”
  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    All uses and structures in Cary's R-12 Residential District.

    • The dimensional standards table excludes the TC District.
    • Applicable streetscape and buffer standards may require greater setbacks, though this does not change the R-12 minimum lot area.

    minimum lot area: >= 12000 square feet · minimum lot width: >= 80 feet (90 feet for a corner lot.)

    “R-12: Residential District All uses and structures 12,000 80 (90 for corner lot)”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    All uses and structures in Cary's R-12 Residential District.

    • The table states that these setbacks are minimums; streetscape and buffer-width standards may require greater setbacks.
    • Height may increase one foot for every foot provided beyond minimum setbacks.

    thoroughfare setback: >= 50 feet · collector avenue setback: >= 30 feet · other-street setback: >= 20 feet · side setback: >= 10 feet · rear setback: >= 25 feet

    “From thoroughfare: 50 From collector avenue: 30 From other streets: 20 10 25 35 3.63”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    All uses and structures in Cary's R-12 Residential District.

    • Table 6.1-1 states that height may be increased one foot for every foot provided in addition to the minimum setbacks.

    maximum building height: <= 35 feet (May be increased on the table's one-to-one additional-setback basis.)

    “Height (Ft) (NOTE: Height may be increased one foot for every foot provided in addition to the min. setbacks)”
  • Living in an RVTemporary only (with conditions)

    RV use as a residence on land inside Cary town limits.

    • A travel trailer, RV, or tent as a permanent or temporary residence is generally prohibited.
    • A trailer approved as a temporary security use under LDO § 5.4 is excepted.
    • An RV may be used as a temporary residence for up to two weeks if located in the driveway or side or rear yard and no closer to the front or corner side of the lot than the principal structure.

    maximum temporary RV residence period: <= 2 weeks (Vehicle must be in the driveway or side or rear yard and meet the stated front/corner-side placement condition.)

    “However, a recreational vehicle (RV) may be used as a temporary residence for up to two (2) weeks, provided the vehicle is located in the driveway or a side or rear yard, such that the RV is no closer to the front or corner side of a lot than the principal structure.”
  • Camping on your landProhibited

    Use of a tent as a residence, including temporary residence, inside Cary town limits.

    • A trailer approved as a temporary use for security under LDO § 5.4 is excepted.
    • The provision separately creates a limited two-week exception for recreational vehicles, not tents.
    “The use of a travel trailer, recreational vehicle, or tent as a residence, permanent or temporary is prohibited, with the exception of a trailer approved as a temporary use for security under Section 5.4.”
  • Accessory dwellingsAllowed (with conditions)

    Accessory dwelling units accessory to principal detached dwelling units inside Cary town limits.

    • ADUs are allowed where depicted in Table 5.1-1 and planned development districts unless explicitly prohibited, and in the TC district as allowed by LDO § 4.2.2(N).
    • The ADU must comply with applicable site, building-design, access, and other standards for the principal detached dwelling unit; ordinary ADUs follow accessory-structure setbacks, while temporary health care structures follow primary-structure setbacks.
    • Only one ADU is permitted on a lot; at least one off-street parking space is required; home occupations are prohibited in an ADU.

    maximum ADU heated floor area: <= 50 percent of principal detached dwelling heated floor area (Also subject to 800 square feet on lots under 40,000 square feet or 1,000 square feet on lots 40,000 square feet or greater, except stated conversion rules.)

    “An accessory dwelling unit shall be permitted as an accessory use subject to the following standards:”
  • Well permitRequired

    A new facility constructed, installed, or operated to withdraw, obtain, or use groundwater for any purpose inside Cary town limits.

    • The permit must be obtained from the Town before construction, installation, or operation.
    • The application must provide facts necessary for Town records of groundwater use.
    • The permit fee is set by the Town.
    “No person shall construct, install or operate a new facility to withdraw, obtain or utilize groundwaters, for any purpose, unless such person shall first obtain a permit therefor from the town.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater (with conditions)

    Property inside Cary corporate limits that is improved and requires a new well or expansion of an existing well.

    • A water connection is required when the property abuts or adjoins a street or alley with a water line, or is adjacent to a town water line.
    • A person need not cross another person's private property to make the connection.
    • All water connection charges, development fees, and outstanding assessment or fee in lieu of assessment are due when the connection request is approved.
    • A county-board-of-health-approved private well may be constructed where compliance is not possible; if it fails or the property cannot support a well and is within 300 feet of a water line, an approved water connection is required.

    failed/private-well connection distance: <= 300 feet (Applies if the private well fails and/or the property cannot support a well.)

    “Every person improving property located within the corporate limits of the town which requires a new well or expansions to an existing well shall make an approved water connection if either of the following conditions exist:”
  • Permit processPartial

    New groundwater-use facilities inside Cary town limits.

    • The groundwater permit is obtained from the Town before construction, installation, or operation.
    • The application must state facts needed for Town groundwater-use records.
    “The application for permit shall set forth such facts as necessary to enable the town to establish and maintain adequate records of groundwater use within the town.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Cary or Wake County directly.

  • Building permit — Residential construction inside Cary town limits.
  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-built residences inside Cary town limits.
  • Inspections — New residential construction inside Cary town limits.
  • Certificate of occupancy — New buildings inside Cary town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Cary town limits.
13 more unanswered
  • Lot coverage
  • Tiny homes
  • Manufactured homes
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Off-grid sanitation
  • Agricultural exemption
  • Subdividing land
  • Driveway access
  • Building in a floodplain
  • Short-term rentals
  • Permit fees

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Cary publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Wake County’s page lists the county offices to call.

← All of Wake County: county rules, score and offices