In North Carolina, a written statement on wood-destroying insects in a structure offered for sale must be made on the WDIR-100 form, after an inspection, by a licensee. It records presence or absence of wood-destroying insects. It is not a warranty or a structural damage report, so buyers should read it closely.
Key takeaways
- The WDIR-100 is the state form for a written statement on wood-destroying insects in a structure offered for sale.
- The rule at 02 NCAC 34 .0602 requires the statement to follow an inspection and to be issued by a licensee.
- The inspection covers accessible areas and certain structural members, and it records present and past activity.
- The report is not a warranty and not a full structural damage report. It answers one question: wood-destroying insects.
- A 2026 Division bulletin says the report must show the company name and a license number with the wood-destroying phase.
What is a WDIR report?
A WDIR report is the written statement on wood-destroying insects that North Carolina requires for a structure offered for sale, filed on the WDIR-100 form. It is issued by a licensee after an inspection and records whether such insects were found.
The WDIR report is named after its form. It is a statement from a licensee about the presence or absence of wood-destroying insects in a structure, most often a house being sold. Buyers, sellers and lenders may ask for it, and the rule that sets the requirement is at 02 NCAC 34 .0602 in the North Carolina Administrative Code.
The name can be confusing. A WDIR report is not a home inspection, an engineer's report or a warranty. It records what was seen during a pest inspection, and it looks specifically for wood-destroying insects, with present and past activity noted. Read it for what it says and what it leaves out, and do not treat it as a promise about the condition of the house.
The form has a specific purpose. If a buyer wants a general look at a building's condition, the report will not provide that, and a separate inspection is the right tool. Ask what each report covers before you rely on either one.
Who can issue the report, and when?
Only a licensee can issue the WDIR-100 report, and only after an inspection has been carried out. A statement that is not based on an inspection does not meet the rule the form serves.
The rule says the report is issued by a licensee. A registered technician working under a licensee does not change that requirement, so the person who signs the report should be checked against the Division's public credential search. Confirm the name on the form matches the company you hired.
The inspection has to come first. The report is a statement about what the licensee found during the inspection, so it cannot be issued from a desk. Ask for the inspection date, the areas inspected and any areas that could not be reached. An inspection that skipped part of the building should say so on the form.
Timing matters in a sale. The report is usually needed during the transaction, so the inspection should be booked early enough for the sale timetable. Ask the company when the report will be issued, and make sure it reaches the people who need it in time.
What does the inspection actually cover?
The inspection covers accessible areas of the structure, including sounding certain structural members, and it looks for present and past activity of wood-destroying insects. Attached decks and porches are included, while detached outbuildings generally are not unless they are requested.
The rule describes a visual inspection of accessible areas. The inspector looks at the foundation, the sill plates, the crawl space or basement, the joists, the interior walls near the foundation and the places where wood meets soil. Where needed, certain members are sounded by tapping or probing, because wood hollowed by insects can sound different from sound wood.
Present and past activity are both recorded. Live insects are a present finding. Old galleries, damage without live insects and evidence of earlier treatment are past activity, and they belong on the form too, because a buyer should know the history of the structure as well as its current state. The inspector looks for evidence, and a homeowner cannot always see that evidence without access.
Coverage has limits. Areas behind finished walls, under built-in cabinets or beneath heavy storage may be inaccessible, and the report should say what was not inspected. Attached decks and porches are included, and detached outbuildings generally are not unless they are asked for. Ask the company to list the areas it could not reach.
Is a WDIR report a warranty or a damage report?
No. A WDIR report is not a warranty and not a structural damage report. It records what the inspector found about wood-destroying insects at the time of the inspection, and it does not promise the house will stay free of them.
A warranty is a promise, and the WDIR report is not one. It states what was seen on the day of the inspection and does not commit the company or the seller to any future result. A buyer who reads it as a guarantee that the house is free of termites will be disappointed, and the form is written to prevent that reading.
A damage report is a different document. The WDIR report notes wood-destroying insect activity. It does not measure structural soundness, load capacity or the cost of repairing damaged wood. A buyer who wants that assessment needs a structural professional, and a repair estimate should come from a qualified tradesperson, not from the pest report.
The difference matters in a negotiation. A pest finding and a structural finding raise different questions and should be dealt with on their own terms. Ask the company to explain which parts of the house it looked at and which findings it would expect a structural professional to assess.
What does the Division's enforcement policy mean for a live termite finding?
The Division has an enforcement policy that addresses what a licensee must do when live subterranean termites are found. This guide does not summarize that policy, because the full current text was not checked, so ask the company and the Division for the wording.
A live finding changes the sale. When an inspector sees live subterranean termites in a structure with no visible prior treatment, the Division's enforcement policy comes into play. The details decide who treats, when, and what the report must say. This page does not state those details, because the current policy text has not been checked against the Division's published version.
For a buyer, the practical step is straightforward. If the report shows live termites or evidence of active infestation, ask in writing what treatment is proposed, who will carry it out, whether it is addressed in the purchase agreement and what guarantee, if any, the treating company offers. Get those answers before the sale closes, and ask to see the relevant part of the Division's current guidance.
Sellers should read the same policy. A seller who knows of a live finding can plan the treatment and the report timing rather than discover the issue during the buyer's inspection. The Division's current guidance is the document to check, and a license holder can point you to it.
How should I prepare for the inspection and check the form?
Clear access to the crawl space, attic and exterior, then check the form for the company name, the license number, the inspection date and the list of areas not reached. A form missing those items is a reason to ask questions before the sale moves forward.
Preparation is about access. Clear the crawl space hatch, leave the garage and storage areas open where possible, and move stored items away from the foundation walls. Make sure the inspector can reach the exterior, the decks and the porches. A clear route lets the inspector see more, which makes the report more useful.
Check the form before accepting it. It should show the company name and a license number, the inspection date, the areas inspected, any areas not reached and the findings in plain words. The 2026 Division bulletin says the form must show the company name and a license number with the wood-destroying phase, so look for both. If either is missing, ask for a corrected form.
Call (855) 974-4733 if you want help arranging a pest inspection for a home being sold, and ask for the form to be explained before the work starts. Tell the technician the sale timetable and whether the buyer or the seller ordered the report, so the form reaches the right person.
How do buyers and sellers use the report in practice?
A WDIR report is one document in a sale, and both sides use it to decide the next step. Read the findings, ask what treatment or repair is proposed, and get the answers in writing before the terms of the sale are settled.
Buyers usually use the report to ask questions rather than to end a deal. A clear report with no findings gives comfort. A report that records past activity raises questions about what was done before, and a report with live findings raises questions about treatment. Each question should be answered in writing by the people who will do the work.
Sellers benefit from knowing the report early. A seller who orders the inspection before listing can see the findings and decide what to treat and how to document it, rather than learning about them when a buyer's inspector raises the question. That timing leaves more room to choose the response.
Keep the report with the closing papers. A report kept with the transaction file is easier to find later and shows what was known at the time of sale. Ask the company for a copy in the form it was issued, not a summary of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is a WDIR report the same as a home inspection?
No. A WDIR report covers wood-destroying insects only and is issued by a licensee on the WDIR-100 form. A home inspection looks at the wider condition of the building, and the two documents answer different questions.
Does a clean WDIR report mean the house has no termites?
It means the inspector found no wood-destroying insects in the accessible areas on the day of the inspection. It does not promise the house is free of termites, and it does not cover areas that could not be reached.
Are detached garages included?
Generally not, unless they are requested as part of the inspection. Attached decks and porches are included, so tell the company about any outbuilding you want covered.
Who pays for the WDIR report?
The report is a service arranged for the sale, and who pays for it is agreed between the buyer and the seller. Confirm the arrangement in writing before the inspection.
What should I do if the form is missing a license number?
Ask the company for a corrected form. The 2026 Division bulletin says the company name and a license number with the wood-destroying phase must appear, so an incomplete form should be checked before the sale moves forward.
Sources
This guide is general information for Mecklenburg County homeowners, not a substitute for an on-site inspection. Prices are estimates. See our disclaimer.