Licensing and permit resources
When driveway and asphalt work needs a permit around Fayetteville, who issues it, and how to check a contractor.
When is a permit needed?
Patching, crack sealing, sealcoating, and resurfacing a driveway or lot on your own property usually don’t need a permit. Permits come into play when work reaches the public street:
- Building a new driveway connection to a street or road
- Widening a driveway or changing where it meets the road
- Cutting into a city street, or working in the public right-of-way
- Changing the use of a property in a way that changes its access
Rules differ by town. When in doubt, call the office below before work starts.
Who issues permits
- City of Fayetteville (city streets): residential driveway permits go through Public Services, 910-433-1656. Commercial driveways on city streets go through the Traffic Services Division, 910-433-1660. Street excavation permits and encroachment agreements for work in the city right-of-way go through the Engineering Division.City permit applications
- State roads (NCDOT): a driveway permit is required to build or change a connection to a state-maintained road. In Cumberland County, apply through NCDOT Highway Division 6, District 2, 600 Southern Ave., Fayetteville. NCDOT doesn’t charge an application fee. If a road is maintained by both the city and the state, each issues its own permit.NCDOT driveway permit FAQ
- Unincorporated Cumberland County and nearby towns: Cumberland County Planning & Inspections serves the unincorporated county and the towns of Hope Mills, Spring Lake, Wade, Godwin, Falcon, Eastover, Linden, and Stedman. 130 Gillespie St., Fayetteville, 910-678-7600.Cumberland County Planning & Inspections
- Hope Mills: the town also runs its own Inspections Department, 910-426-4118.Hope Mills permits
- Spring Lake: the town’s Inspections Department handles building permits, 910-985-7265.Spring Lake inspections
- Raeford and Hoke County: Hoke County Building Inspections, 423 E Central Ave., Raeford, 910-875-8407. Inside Raeford city limits, check with the City of Raeford.Hoke County Building Inspections
Your contractor can tell you whether your job needs a permit and usually handles it.
Potholes in public streets
Potholes on public roads are fixed by whoever maintains the road, not by private contractors. Report city street potholes to the City of Fayettevilleand state road potholes to NCDOT.
Checking a contractor
Ask any contractor for proof of insurance and for references from recent local jobs. Larger construction projects in North Carolina require a licensed general contractor; you can look up a license with theNorth Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors. Get the scope of work and price in writing before the job starts.