Eviction in Wake County (Raleigh), North Carolina
Where eviction cases are filed in Wake County (Raleigh), what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Wake County (Raleigh)
- Eviction court
- Wake County District Court - Small Claims (magistrate) — Small claims court before a magistrate (district court division); evictions are 'summary ejectment' Court page
- Filing fee
- $96 filing fee + $30 sheriff service fee per defendant (or certified mail) NC Judicial Branch - Small Claims help topic (statewide court costs)
- Notice before filing (state law)
- If the lease has no forfeiture (re-entry) clause for nonpayment, the landlord must make a demand for all past-due rent and wait 10 days before the term is forfeited. If the lease has such a clause, the statute requires no pre-filing notice. North Carolina rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,750/month HUD
- Renter households
- 165,106 (36% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-22
Where eviction cases are filed in Wake County (Raleigh)
Eviction cases in Wake County (Raleigh) are heard by the Wake County District Court - Small Claims (magistrate) (Small claims court before a magistrate (district court division); evictions are 'summary ejectment').
- Wake County Courthouse (all civil matters) — 316 Fayetteville St. Mall, Raleigh, NC 27601 (main 919-792-4000) · website
Court eviction page · Search court records · Self-help center
Summary ejectment complaints are filed with the Clerk of Superior Court in the county and heard by a magistrate. Court dates: search Portal or the civil calendar (https://calendars.nccourts.org/results?county=Wake&type=Civil). The free Guide & File service (https://northcarolina.tylertech.cloud/SRL/) helps prepare summary ejectment complaints, tenant answers/counterclaims, and appeals to district court. All civil matters are conducted in the Wake County Courthouse (criminal matters at the Wake County Justice Center).
How much it costs to file an eviction in Wake County (Raleigh)
$96 filing fee + $30 sheriff service fee per defendant (or certified mail)
Statewide uniform cost. Unable to pay: petition to sue as an indigent (form linked from the NC Judicial Branch landlord/tenant page).
Source: NC Judicial Branch - Small Claims help topic (statewide court costs)
How eviction cases work locally
| Court dates | Search hearing dates in eCourts Portal or the county civil calendar. Source: Official source |
|---|
The North Carolina eviction process
North Carolina state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Wake County (Raleigh):
- Notice (if required): 10-day demand for rent if the lease lacks a forfeiture clause (§ 42-3); notice to quit for holdovers (§ 42-14)
- Landlord files a Complaint in Summary Ejectment with the clerk of superior court
- Clerk issues summons to appear within 7 days (excluding weekends/holidays); served by sheriff (mail plus attempted personal delivery or posting) or certified mail (§§ 42-28, 42-29)
- Hearing before a magistrate; judgment for possession (§ 42-30)
- 10-day appeal period to District Court; landlord cannot remove the tenant until it ends; tenant can stay execution on appeal by paying undisputed rent into court (§ 42-34)
- Clerk issues Writ of Possession; sheriff must execute within 5 days of receipt, gives notice of the approximate time, and the landlord padlocks the unit (§ 42-36.2)
Full North Carolina eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Wake County (Raleigh)
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Raleigh-Cary, NC MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $1,524 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,596 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,750 |
| 3 bedrooms | $2,196 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,936 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Wake County (Raleigh): $1,623/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified.
Eviction help in Wake County (Raleigh)
Free legal help
- Legal Aid of North Carolina — Statewide civil legal aid; linked from the NC Judicial Branch landlord/tenant help page.
City rules in Wake County (Raleigh)
Other North Carolina counties
- Eviction in Mecklenburg County (Charlotte)
- Eviction in Guilford County (Greensboro, High Point)
- Eviction in Durham County (Durham)
- Eviction in Cumberland County (Fayetteville)
- Eviction in Forsyth County (Winston-Salem)
- Eviction in New Hanover County (Wilmington)
- Eviction in Pitt County (Greenville)
- Eviction in Buncombe County (Asheville)
- Eviction in Gaston County (Gastonia)
- Eviction in Onslow County (Jacksonville)
Related
- North Carolina landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in North Carolina
- North Carolina eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in North Carolina (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Wake County (Raleigh)?
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Wake County (Raleigh)?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Wake County (Raleigh)?
What is the fair market rent in Wake County (Raleigh)?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.