Plumbing demand in the Triangle splits cleanly into work that comes from growth and work that comes from age. Permit data is the only source that shows you both on the same map.
~2,000
Housing units authorized across Raleigh–Cary and Durham–Chapel Hill, June 2026
1,224
Raleigh–Cary's strongest single-family month of 2026 so far (April)
$23.06
NC median hourly wage — mobilization, not labor rate, decides margin
Clock one: growth
Roughly 2,000 units were authorized across the two Triangle metros in June 2026. Each detached home is an underslab, a rough-in, and a trim. Each apartment building is one buyout with dozens of stacks. If you sell to builders, the permit date minus your lead time is your bid deadline.
Clock two: age
- Water heater permits map the replacement cycle street by street — tanks installed 10 to 14 years ago are the next call list.
- Sewer lateral and water service permits cluster in older Durham and inside-the-beltline Raleigh neighborhoods where clay and galvanized lines are still in the ground.
- Bathroom and kitchen remodel permits are repipe conversations in disguise. If the wall is already open, the upsell costs the homeowner far less.
Filters worth saving
- Permit type plumbing, plus new residential permits where a plumbing permit has not been pulled yet.
- Residential job value under $5,000 for fixture and water heater work; $8,000 and up for repipes and service replacements.
- Commercial filings with restaurant, medical, or lab use — those carry fixture counts and grease or acid waste scope most residential shops skip.