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1. What is the jurisdiction of New Hanover County?

Governing Jurisdiction of New Hanover County

New Hanover County is made up of five municipalities, however only the unincorporated area is governed by New Hanover County. Each municipality has their own planning and land use regulations.

1. Unincorporated 
2. City of Wilmington
3. Wrightsville Beach
4. Carolina Beach
5. Kure Beach

Please view our parcel map to view the township boundaries. 

2. Who can help with a permit?

Building Permits

New Hanover County Planning and Land Use does not issue or review permits. For general help or inquires regarding your permit you can call the COAST help line. For general FAQ's please visit Building Safety's webpage.

Applications

You can apply for a building permit through our COAST portal. 

COAST Help

If you need assistance navigating COAST, please contact Development Services. 

Contact Information:

• 910-798-7308, option 1
• coast@nhcgov.com

3. Who maintains my road?

New Hanover County Roads

New Hanover County does not maintain or own any roads in the unincorporated area. 

Public vs Private Roads

• Public roads are maintained by the NCDOT. 
• Private roads are maintained by private entities like HOA's or parcel owners. 
  

NCDOT Public Street Information Map

Transportation Planning

The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) serves as the local transportation planning entity. 

For more information regarding long term projects please visit the WMPO website.

4. What can I build on my land?

Each parcel is zoned for a specific use and are bound by zoning regulations. Our UDO outlines each zone and the associated uses. To change the zoning classification of a parcel or property, it must go through a public legislative process called a rezoning. 

UDO

Parcel Map