Housing & Property
Permits and inspections, zoning lookup, finding your HOA, the active developments map, the Unified Development Ordinance, and how to report property code issues.
Quick Actions
Permits & Inspections
The Town of Wake Forest Inspections Department handles permits for residential and commercial construction and renovations. Applications and plan review are submitted electronically.
Permits typically required
- Building (new construction, additions, alterations)
- Plumbing
- Electrical
- Mechanical (HVAC)
- Sign, fence, deck, swimming pool / spa, demolition
Apply online
Permit Portal → Check Permit Status →Schedule an inspection
Schedule by 3 p.m. for next-business-day inspection via the permit portal or call 919-435-9531.
Zoning Lookup
To find a property’s zoning designation, the easiest path is Wake County iMAPS — searchable by address, owner, or PIN, with zoning, parcel, deed, and tax info on the same map.
Open Wake County GIS →Verify permitted uses
For specific zoning questions or to verify permitted uses on a parcel, contact the Planning Department.
Planning: 919-435-9510 · Wake Forest Zoning page
Unified Development Ordinance (UDO)
The UDO combines zoning, subdivision, land use, grading, stormwater, and historic preservation regulations into a single document. The Code of Ordinances covers the rest.
Read the UDO → Code of Ordinances →Finding Your HOA
North Carolina does not maintain a central HOA registry. To find your subdivision’s HOA:
- Search iMAPS by your address — parcel records list subdivision and plat info
- Search the NC Secretary of State’s nonprofit database for the HOA by subdivision name: sosnc.gov
- Review your deed at the Wake County Register of Deeds for covenants and HOA references: Register of Deeds
The Town does not enforce HOA covenants. Where HOA rules are more restrictive than Town zoning, the HOA rules apply within that community.
Active Developments
The Town publishes an Active Developments map that is updated frequently. It shows ongoing residential and commercial projects across Wake Forest.
Active Developments Map → Development overview →Notable current projects
- Holding Village — large mixed-use development with ongoing build-out
- Grove Ninety-Eight (Hwy 98 Bypass) — ~100-acre mixed-use anchored by Wegmans
- Downtown Food Hall — 20,000 sq ft food hall + condos planned in restored Old Chevrolet building at Roosevelt Ave & N. White St.
- UNC Health Rex Wake Forest hospital — proposed; check Town development page for current status
Short-Term Rentals & Rental Rules
Wake Forest regulates short-term rentals (Airbnb, Vrbo, etc.) through its Unified Development Ordinance. HOA rules in individual neighborhoods may impose additional restrictions, and where stricter, HOA covenants govern.
For current STR permit requirements, contact Planning at 919-435-9510.
Property Code Complaints
To report property maintenance issues, overgrown lots, junk vehicles, or code violations, file a report online or call Planning Zoning Enforcement.
Report a Problem →Phone: 919-435-9510
Wake Forest Neighborhoods
Some of the largest named communities in Wake Forest include:
Heritage · Wakefield · Holding Village · Caveness Farms · Traditions · Glen Royall Mill Village (historic) · Autumn Park · Bexley at Heritage · Legacy Heritage · Greenway Village at Heritage · Hawthorne at Traditions · Ardmore Heritage
Glen Royall Mill Village Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (period of significance 1900–1949).
For a deeper dive into Wake Forest neighborhoods including new-construction communities, see our Neighborhoods guide.
Related Pages
- Cost of Living — housing as part of the full monthly budget
- Property Tax — rates, exemptions, appeals
- Newcomers Checklist — utility setup, address change, first-week list
Spot a stale development or wrong phone number?
Construction starts, projects get rezoned, fees adjust. If anything here is out of date, send us a tip.