Alamance County commercial permits show steady regional development activity

More than 200 officials, business people and others attended the Buc-ee’s groundbreaking in Mebane. Founder and president Arch “Beaver” Aplin III said the company’s opening date for its 70th store is November 2027.

Clearing has begun at the Swepsonville Sheetz, which town leaders approved in fall 2025 and which will be the chain’s fifth location in Alamance County once complete. The warehouse site near Graham covers 68.8 acres just inside the city limits, where clearing and grading have already started on a build-to-suit industrial and distribution project marketed through the state Department of Commerce.

Those visible projects sit inside a steady commercial permit pipeline. In Alamance County, new commercial permits move through the Inspections Department and Planning Department and require parcel identification, GIS address assignment, environmental health permits when needed, plan review and fee payment. Alamance County requires electronic plan submittal on all new buildings, large upfits and remodels, and approved or commented plans are returned within ten business days after acceptance.

Burlington handles permit and inspection work through multiple city departments, with Burlington Smart used to apply for permits, schedule inspections, track approvals and pay fees. Elon also routes commercial permitting and inspections through town planning or inspections offices depending on where a project is located.

The Buc-ee’s project sits near I-85/40 at Trollingwood-Hawfields Road. The Swepsonville Sheetz is tied to Kimrey Road and North Carolina Highway 119, while the Graham warehouse is on the edge of the city near residential and business areas.