Carteret County, NC Accessory Structures: Tiny Homes (2026)

Carteret County has no zoning ordinance written specifically for tiny homes, but its flood damage prevention chapter draws the line that governs them. Under the recreational vehicle (RV) definition in County Code § 7-26, a unit only counts as an RV if it sits on a single chassis, measures 400 square feet or less, is designed to be towed or self-propelled, is meant for temporary rather than permanent living, and is fully licensed and ready for highway use. The same section then states directly that tiny homes and houses, along with park models, that do not meet those five criteria "are not considered recreational vehicles and should meet the standards of and be permitted as residential structures." That reclassification matters most inside a special flood hazard area: instead of the lighter treatment given to a temporarily placed RV under § 7-87(6), a tiny home that fails the RV test must obtain a floodplain development permit under § 7-38, elevate its reference level to the regulatory flood protection elevation required for new residential construction under § 7-87(1), and go through the same elevation-certificate process at § 7-67 that any stick-built house faces, reviewed by the Director of Planning and Development acting as floodplain administrator under § 7-66.

A tiny home on wheels that is not licensed and road-ready, or that exceeds 400 square feet, cannot be parked in a flood hazard area and treated as a camper; the county will require it to meet residential foundation, elevation, and permitting standards before it can be occupied.