New Hanover County building permits are issued by Building Safety for unincorporated New Hanover, the City of Wilmington, and Carolina Beach. Those municipalities keep zoning and, in Wilmington, historic district review; Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach run their own building inspections. Everything else runs through COAST, the county’s Customer Online Application and Services Tool.
This is a coastal county, so a second permit system sits alongside the building one. The Coastal Area Management Act attaches wherever a project falls inside an Area of Environmental Concern, and a CAMA permit is a separate approval on a separate clock — not something the building permit carries with it.
Applies to unincorporated New Hanover, the City of Wilmington, and Carolina Beach for building permits; municipal zoning and historic review remain local. Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach run their own building inspections.
A building permit is not a CAMA permit. Building Safety can issue a permit for a project that still needs coastal clearance. Settle the Area of Environmental Concern question before the design is fixed, not after a stop-work order.
What requires a permit in New Hanover County?
A New Hanover County building permit is required before most construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement, demolition, or change of occupancy. What makes New Hanover distinctive is reach: Building Safety issues building permits inside the City of Wilmington and Carolina Beach as well as the unincorporated county, while those municipalities keep zoning and their own historic and appearance review. Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach run their own building inspections.
Permit required
- New houses, townhouses, duplexes, detached living space, and secondary residences
- Horizontal additions on any elevation, and second- or third-storey additions
- Structural and load-bearing alterations, and demolition
- Electrical services, panel work, and most wiring alterations
- Plumbing additions, repipes, gas piping, and non-identical water heater swaps
- Mechanical and HVAC installations and changeouts
- Pools, decks, docks, bulkheads, and other waterfront structures
- Solar photovoltaic and battery storage systems
Typically exempt
- Nonstructural work costing $40,000 or less in a single-family home, farm building, or commercial building (G.S. 160D-1110(c))
- Replacement windows, doors, exterior siding, and porch/deck pickets, railings, stair treads, and decking
- Like-for-like plumbing swaps that keep size and capacity, and like-kind light fixtures, receptacles, and switches
- Same-spec water heater changeouts installed by a licensed contractor
- Painting, flooring, cabinetry, and other cosmetic work
North Carolina enforces one State Building Code statewide; the 2018 edition still governs while the 2024 edition waits on the State Fire Marshal and the new Residential Code Council. North Carolina rules
New Hanover County building department: who handles permitting
New Hanover County Building Safety is the building department for unincorporated New Hanover, the City of Wilmington, and Carolina Beach; Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach run their own building inspections. Municipal zoning stays local, and in Wilmington a certificate of appropriateness may be needed in a historic district before the county permit does any good. Everything runs through COAST, the Customer Online Application and Services Tool.
Utilities coordinate separately. The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) handles water and sewer for much of the county, and its approvals sit alongside the building permit rather than inside it. On unsewered parcels, septic and well approvals come through environmental health instead.
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Get a free quote →| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Authority | New Hanover County Building Safety — 230 Government Center Drive, Suite 170, Wilmington · 910-798-7308 · coast@nhcgov.com |
| Also covers | City of Wilmington and Carolina Beach (municipal zoning still applies); not Kure Beach or Wrightsville Beach |
| Online portal | COAST — Customer Online Application & Services Tool |
| Inspection cutoff | Request in COAST before 3:30 p.m. for next-business-day |
| Inspection volume | Roughly 300 inspections performed per day, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. |
| Coastal overlay | CAMA county — Local Permit Officer at (910) 798-7116 |
If you used the county's previous system, you still need to create a COAST account — click through the create-an-account path rather than trying to sign in with old credentials. Inside COAST, the Today's Inspections view shows your assigned inspector's name and number, which is the fastest route to a question about a pending inspection.
This guide covers New Hanover County, North Carolina, anchored by Wilmington. Note the near-misses that cause real trouble in search: Wilmington, Delaware and Wilmington, North Carolina are different cities, and Hanover County, Virginia and Hanover, Pennsylvania are unrelated jurisdictions.
New Hanover County permits: record types and what each covers
New Hanover's record catalog carries coastal records that most North Carolina counties never issue, and those are the ones that decide a waterfront schedule. These are the records you will encounter:
Residential permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | New dwellings, additions, and accessory structures above the local size threshold | Full plan review against the 2018 NC Residential Code, plus zoning | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Load-bearing changes, work over $40,000, or added or redesigned plumbing, HVAC, or electrical | Plan review scaled to scope; 15-business-day residential clock applies | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Roof covering replacement costing over $40,000, and any work that adds rather than replaces roofing | Inspections set by the local department; plan review rarely required | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Rooftop or ground-mount PV, with or without battery storage | Electrical review led, with structural review of the attachment | Flat or system-size based |
| Battery energy storage | Wall or floor-mounted ESS added to a dwelling | Electrical review plus fire separation and location check | Flat or per-permit minimum |
| Electrical | Service changes, panel upgrades, new circuits, EV chargers, most rewiring | Trade review by the electrical inspector; filed as its own record | Per-permit minimum or per-device |
| Plumbing | New piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and non-identical water heater swaps | Trade review; like-for-like same-capacity swaps are statutorily exempt | Per-permit minimum or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | All HVAC equipment installs and changeouts, including like-for-like swaps, plus ductwork and refrigeration | Trade review by the mechanical inspector | Per-permit minimum or per-unit |
| Deck and porch | New decks and structural rebuilds; pickets, rails, treads, and decking are exempt replacements | Footing and framing review against the residential code | Flat or valuation-based |
| Pool and spa | In-ground and above-ground pools, spas, barriers, and bonding | Structural, barrier, and electrical bonding review | Valuation-based |
| Accessory structure | Sheds, detached garages, and carports above the local size threshold | Zoning first, then structural review where applicable | Flat or valuation-based |
| Demolition | Full or partial demolition of a structure | Utility disconnect verification and asbestos notification | Flat |
| CAMA minor permit | Residential development inside an Area of Environmental Concern | Issued locally by a designated Local Permit Officer | State-set, CPI-adjusted |
| Elevation certificate / flood review | Construction in a mapped flood zone | Elevation and flood-resistant construction review | Flat plus survey cost |
| Dock, pier, or bulkhead | Waterfront and shoreline structures | Structural review plus CAMA clearance where an AEC applies | Valuation-based |
Not sure this scope needs a permit?
Get a free quote →Commercial permit types
| Permit type | What triggers it | Review path | Fee basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| New construction | Ground-up commercial, industrial, and multifamily buildings | Full multi-discipline review; sealed plans required | Valuation-based |
| Upfit / tenant improvement | Interior build-outs and suite fit-ups in an existing shell | Concurrent building, trade, and fire review | Valuation-based |
| Renovation / alteration | Structural, envelope, or system changes to an existing building | Plan review scaled to scope; accessibility triggers attach | Valuation-based |
| Change of occupancy | Converting a building from one occupancy classification to another | Life-safety, accessibility, and zoning review | Valuation or flat |
| Shell building | A building permitted without a known tenant or use | Shell review only; no certificate of occupancy until an upfit closes | Valuation-based |
| Reroof | Commercial roof covering replacement or recover | Structural check on added dead load; fire review where applicable | Valuation or squares |
| Solar photovoltaic | Commercial rooftop, carport, and ground-mount arrays | Structural, electrical, and fire access review | Valuation or system-size based |
| Electrical | Service, distribution, and branch circuit work | Trade review; separate record from the building permit | Valuation or per-device |
| Plumbing | Supply, waste, vent, grease, and gas systems | Trade review; backflow and grease interceptor sign-offs attach | Valuation or per-fixture |
| Mechanical / HVAC | Rooftop units, ductwork, exhaust, and refrigeration | Trade review; energy compliance documentation required | Valuation or per-unit |
| Fire protection | Sprinkler, standpipe, alarm, hood, and suppression systems | Fire prevention review, often a separate submittal | Valuation or per-device |
| Sign | Wall, monument, and illuminated signage | Zoning review plus electrical where illuminated | Flat or per-sign |
| CAMA major permit | Coastal development needing other state or federal approvals, or dredge and fill | Issued by the NC Division of Coastal Management | State-set, CPI-adjusted |
| CFPUA water and sewer | Connection and capacity for parcels on public utilities | Cape Fear Public Utility Authority review, parallel to the building permit | Connection and capacity charges |
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- Single-discipline review in most cases
- One permit covers simultaneous same-address residential projects (G.S. 160D-1110(d))
- Initial review due within 15 business days; after 20, 10% of the fee is refunded for each business day late (up to 10 days)
- No engineer's or architect's seal may be demanded unless the code itself requires it
Commercial — multi-discipline
- Concurrent review across building, trades, fire, and zoning
- Signed and sealed plans where state law requires them; small commercial buildings can be exempt (G.S. 83A-13)
- Third-party plan review available under G.S. 160D-1110.1 when review stalls
- Accessibility and life-safety review attach to any change of occupancy
Records you will actually see in New Hanover
| Record | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Residential building permit | New dwellings, additions, and alterations, including in Wilmington and Carolina Beach |
| Commercial building permit | Ground-up commercial, upfits, and alterations with multi-discipline review |
| CAMA minor permit | Development inside an Area of Environmental Concern, issued by the Local Permit Officer |
| CAMA major permit | Larger or multi-agency coastal development, issued by the Division of Coastal Management |
| Flood zone / elevation review | Elevation certificates and flood-resistant construction in mapped zones |
| Dock, pier, and bulkhead | Waterfront structures, frequently CAMA-triggering |
| Trade permits (electrical, plumbing, mechanical) | Filed by the state-licensed contractor for each trade |
| CFPUA water and sewer coordination | Utility approvals running alongside the building permit |
Solar permits in New Hanover
Solar files in COAST as an electrical-led record with structural review of the attachment. On the coast the attachment detail carries more weight than inland, because the array becomes part of the roof's wind load path rather than an accessory sitting on top of it.
Rather not deal with the New Hanover County building department?
Get a free quote →Roofing permits in New Hanover
Reroofs in the county’s area — Wilmington and Carolina Beach included — are New Hanover County permits; in Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach they are town permits. Coastal wind requirements drive the fastening schedule, and a historic district in Wilmington adds a certificate of appropriateness ahead of the permit.
Solar covenants and the roofing permit exemption are set by state law, and utilities run interconnection on their own timeline. North Carolina rules
New Hanover County permit cost
New Hanover County building permit fees are set by the county's adopted fee schedule and vary by record type and scope, with trade permits charged separately from the building record. Payments and applications both run through COAST.
Coastal projects carry costs that sit outside the county schedule entirely. CAMA permit fees are set by the state, and under G.S. 143B-279.19 they are adjusted to the Consumer Price Index beginning July 1, 2025 and every four years after — so a CAMA fee quoted from an older handbook will be low.
| Fee component | How it works |
|---|---|
| Building permit | County fee schedule by record type and scope |
| Trade permits (E/P/M) | Charged separately per trade record |
| CAMA minor permit | State-set fee, CPI-adjusted from July 1, 2025 on a four-year cycle |
| CAMA major permit | State-set fee through the Division of Coastal Management |
| CFPUA | Water and sewer connection and capacity charges, billed separately |
| Re-inspection | Charged on failed inspections before final or certificate |
Want a precise number for a specific New Hanover project? Send us the scope and we will price the permit path before you file.
New Hanover County trade permits
New Hanover County trade permits for electrical, plumbing, and mechanical work are separate COAST records pulled by the state-licensed contractor performing the work, filed against the building permit for the same address.
Electrical permits
Required for services, panel upgrades, circuits, EV chargers, and solar interconnection. Electrical work takes a contractor licensed by the NC State Board of Examiners of Electrical Contractors, unless owners wire their own home that is not for sale or rent.
Plumbing permits
Required for new piping, repipes, fixtures, gas piping, and non-identical water heater changeouts; CFPUA coordination applies on connections.
Mechanical (HVAC) permits
Required for all installations and changeouts, including like-for-like swaps, plus ductwork and refrigeration. Coastal corrosion exposure drives equipment selection more than the code does.
Coastal and waterfront specialty
Docks, piers, bulkheads, and shoreline stabilisation frequently need CAMA clearance in addition to the building record, and the two run on different clocks.
Want this handled start to finish?
Get a free quote →New Hanover County permit application: how to apply step by step
Here is how to get a building permit in New Hanover County, from confirming the requirement through to close-out. Each step below corresponds to a real decision point where projects commonly stall.
Establish whether the parcel is in an Area of Environmental Concern, a mapped flood zone, or an ocean hazard area. These decide the design, not just the paperwork.
Even previous users of the old system need to create a COAST account. Do this before you need to file.
Plans, elevation certificate where applicable, CFPUA or septic and well documentation, and any CAMA permit or determination.
Building Safety routes the record and pulls in zoning, planning, fire, and trade reviews as the scope requires; COAST shows comments and deficiencies for you to resolve.
If an AEC is involved, the CAMA minor or major permit runs on its own timeline. Starting it late is the most common coastal delay in the state.
Pay in COAST, request inspections before 3:30 p.m. for next business day, and run through to your certificate.
Inspections in New Hanover County
New Hanover County inspections are requested in COAST, and the cutoff is firm: 3:30 p.m. for a next-business-day inspection. The department performs roughly 300 inspections a day between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., and individual visits run anywhere from five minutes to two hours, so a specific arrival time cannot be guaranteed.
Find your inspector's name and number under Today's Inspections in COAST rather than calling the main line. Live remote inspections are available for eligible scopes, which on a coastal county with long drive times is worth asking about. If a local government reviews residential plans at all, G.S. 160D-1110(b) requires the initial review within 15 business days of submission — and if it slips past 20 business days, the jurisdiction must refund 10% of the total permit fee for every business day of delay, up to 10 days (a full refund). The same subsection bars requiring an engineer's or architect's seal on one- and two-family plans unless the code itself demands it.
State law sets how long a North Carolina permit stays valid and when changes need written approval. North Carolina rules
New Hanover County permit search and official resources
Run a New Hanover County permit search, open COAST, or check whether your project sits in an Area of Environmental Concern with the official links below.
- New Hanover County Building Safety
- New Hanover County permitting (COAST)
- New Hanover County CAMA permit program
- NC Division of Coastal Management
- NC Licensing Board for General Contractors
- LiensNC — designate a lien agent (jobs of $40,000 or more)
Frequently asked questions
Inspections are where schedules slip.
Get a free quote →Who issues building permits in Wilmington, NC?
New Hanover County Building Safety. The county issues building permits inside the City of Wilmington and Carolina Beach as well as the unincorporated county, while those municipalities keep zoning and, in Wilmington, historic district review. There is no separate Wilmington building permit office for the construction record. Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach run their own building inspections.
What is the COAST portal?
COAST is New Hanover County's Customer Online Application and Services Tool, used to apply, upload documents, pay, and request inspections. If you used the county's previous system you still need to create a new COAST account rather than signing in with old credentials.
Do I need a CAMA permit in New Hanover County?
Only if your project is inside an Area of Environmental Concern. The test is measured — in or on state waters, a marsh or wetland; within 75 feet of the normal high water line on an estuarine shoreline; within 30 feet of the normal water level of designated inland fishing waters; or within 575 feet of the mean high water line on an Outstanding Resource Water.
What is the difference between a CAMA minor and major permit?
A minor permit is issued locally by a designated Local Permit Officer and covers most single-lot residential development inside an AEC. A major permit comes from the Division of Coastal Management and applies when the project needs other state or federal approvals, exceeds minor thresholds, or involves dredge and fill.
When do I have to request a New Hanover County inspection?
Before 3:30 p.m. in COAST for a next-business-day inspection. Inspections run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and the county performs roughly 300 a day, with visits ranging from five minutes to two hours — so a guaranteed time slot is not available.
Does a New Hanover County building permit cover the CAMA requirement?
No, and this is the most expensive misunderstanding on the coast. They are separate approvals on separate timelines. An inspection department can issue a building permit for a project that still needs CAMA clearance, and the resulting stop-work order is entirely avoidable.
How do I run a New Hanover County permit search?
Through COAST, which holds permit records, inspection results, and document history. For a question about a pending inspection, the Today's Inspections view shows your assigned inspector's name and number directly.
Who handles water and sewer in New Hanover County?
The Cape Fear Public Utility Authority (CFPUA) for much of the county, with approvals running alongside the building permit rather than inside it. Unsewered parcels go through septic and well approvals via environmental health instead.
How do coastal wind and flood rules affect my design?
They shape it before the code question is reached — flood zone elevation, elevation certificates, and coastal wind design all drive the structure rather than decorating it. On the oceanfront, ocean hazard AEC setbacks measured from erosion rates can determine whether the footprint is buildable at all.
Which North Carolina counties are CAMA counties?
20: Beaufort, Bertie, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Hyde, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. Only eight of those actually front the Atlantic — the rest are estuarine and fully CAMA regardless.
When is a general contractor licence required in New Hanover County?
On projects of $40,000 or more, under G.S. 87-1 and the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors, with tiers capping single-project value at $750,000, $1,500,000, or without limit excluding land cost.
Can I get an expedited or remote inspection in New Hanover County?
Live remote inspections are available for eligible scopes, which is worth asking about in a county where drive times to the beach communities are long. Eligibility depends on the inspection type, so confirm with Building Safety before relying on it.
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County authority that surprises people filing from Wilmington, a portal that will not take your old login, and a coastal permit that runs on a completely separate clock from the building permit — New Hanover punishes assumptions. A permit expediter for New Hanover County keeps both tracks moving: we check the AEC question first, file in COAST, and schedule against the inspection cutoff.
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Alliance Permitting is a permit documentation and expediting service. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice, and we are not the permitting authority.
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More North Carolina permitting guides
This guide is provided by Alliance Permitting for general information about New Hanover County permitting. Requirements, fees, and procedures change; confirm details with the permitting authority before relying on them.