Planning a project in Youngsville

Youngsville is a small Franklin County town just north of Wake Forest, and for a long time it was mostly a quiet main street surrounded by farms. Growth spilling north from Wake County has changed that, and new subdivisions now ring the town, while older houses near downtown and rural homes on large lots fill out the rest. For homeowners, the defining feature of a Youngsville project is that it crosses a county line in the paperwork: the town handles zoning, and Franklin County handles building permits.

Who does what

Town of Youngsville Planning Department

• Issues zoning compliance permits. A zoning permit is required for any new use, expansions of existing uses and changes of use. For a homeowner, that includes additions, garages, sheds, porches and other structures that change the footprint.
• Schedules the town's inspections. After you submit a request, planning staff reach out to schedule it, and on the morning of the inspection they contact you to confirm.
• Doesn't issue building permits. The town says plainly that building permits are not a Youngsville Planning Department function.

Franklin County Planning & Inspections

• Reviews and issues building permits, along with the trade permits and inspections that go with them.
• Requires an approved town zoning compliance permit to be uploaded to the county's permit portal before it will issue a building permit.

So the order is fixed: town zoning permit first, county building permit second. Plan your contractor's schedule accordingly.

Outside town limits, in unincorporated Franklin County, the county handles both zoning and building.

Fees and refunds

Youngsville's planning staff note that application fees can't be refunded once review has been substantially completed, and inspection fees can't be refunded after you've confirmed the inspection appointment. Have your plans and site information ready before you apply so you don't pay twice.

Wells, septic and rural lots

Many homes around Youngsville use private wells and septic systems. Before you plan an addition, extra bedrooms, a pool or a large patio, locate your septic tank, drain field and repair area, and keep construction away from them. Adding bedrooms can require a larger septic system, which needs county environmental health approval.

Climate and soil

Franklin County is in climate zone 3A in the 2024 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code. Summers are long and humid, and winters are mild with occasional ice. Soils are Piedmont clays that drain slowly. New subdivision lots move water through graded swales and easements, so keep patios, fences and additions out of them, and call NC 811 before you dig.

HOAs

Most new subdivisions around Youngsville have HOAs with architectural committees that review decks, porches, fences, sheds and exterior colors. Older homes in town and rural properties usually have no HOA. Remember that you may need three approvals for an exterior project: HOA, town zoning and county building.

Electric service

Depending on the address, homes in the Youngsville area may be served by Duke Energy or Wake Electric, the member-owned cooperative that serves parts of Franklin County. Duke's Smart $aver rebates apply only to Duke customers; Wake Electric members should check the co-op's programs. Check your bill first.

A typical Youngsville addition, in order

1. Check your deed and HOA rules, and get written HOA approval if you have one.
2. Locate the septic system (if any) and confirm the addition stays clear of the drain field and repair area. Adding bedrooms may need county environmental health approval.
3. Apply to the town for the zoning compliance permit, with a site plan showing setbacks from every property line.
4. Upload the approved zoning permit to Franklin County's portal with your building permit application and plans.
5. Line up licensed trades. Electrical, plumbing and HVAC work done by contractors requires state-licensed contractors.
6. Schedule inspections with the county for building and trades, and with the town for its zoning inspections.

Projects that make sense here

• Screened porches and decks in new neighborhoods. See porches and decks.
• Additions and garages on bigger lots, with septic checked first. See home additions.
• HVAC replacements and heat pump upgrades, including replacing older oil or propane heat in rural homes. See HVAC.
• Roof replacement on older homes and storm damage from tall trees. See roofing.
• Kitchens, baths and floors in homes from the 1990s and 2000s. See kitchen remodeling, bathroom remodeling and flooring.

Licensing

North Carolina requires a licensed general contractor for any project of $40,000 or more and state-licensed electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractors for trade work. Look up general contractors on the NCLBGC license search.