Building Safety in New Hanover County, NC (2026)
3 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 1 city in New Hanover County, North Carolina.
Verified from official government sources
Building Permits
Sec. 11-81 of the county code bars anyone from constructing, reconstructing, altering, repairing, moving, or demolishing a building in the unincorporated county without first securing a permit from the inspection department, and Sec. 11-84 requires a licensed general contractor and, in some cases, a registered architect or engineer's seal once the estimated cost exceeds $20,000.
New Hanover County Building Permit Requirements
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances §§ 11-81(a), 11-84(a)
(a)No person may commence or proceed with:(1)The construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, movement to another site, removal, or demolition of any building; ... without first securing from the inspection department with jurisdiction over the site of the work each permit required by the state building code and any other state or local law or local ordinance or regulation applicable to th...
Electrical Permits
Sec. 11-123 adopts the National Electrical Code, NFPA 70, as the minimum standard for all wiring, devices, and equipment installed in the county, and Sec. 11-151 requires anyone installing, altering, or adding to electrical wiring or equipment to first secure a permit from the county electrical inspector.
New Hanover County Electrical Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances §§ 11-123, 11-151
The National Electrical Code, standard of the National Board of Fire Underwriters, as recommended by the National Fire Protection Association, and approved by the American Standards Association, being NFPA No. 70, is adopted as the minimum standard for the installation of all electrical wiring, devices and equipment in the county, except as otherwise specifically provided in this article; and t...
Plumbing Permits
New Hanover County adopts the current North Carolina Plumbing Code as its plumbing code under Sec. 11-5, and Sec. 11-81 bars anyone from installing, extending, or repairing a plumbing system in the unincorporated county without first securing a permit from the county Inspection Department, with fees, plans, and inspections handled under the same building-permit article.
New Hanover County Plumbing Permit Rules
Some RestrictionsNew Hanover County Code of Ordinances §§ 11-5, 11-81(a)
The current edition of the North Carolina Plumbing Code (North Carolina State Building Code, Volume II, Plumbing) as adopted and published by the North Carolina Building Code Council and as amended, is adopted by reference as fully as though set forth in this section as the plumbing code for the county. ... (a)No person may commence or proceed with:(1)The construction, reconstruction, alteratio...
Building Safety by City in New Hanover County
1 cities in New Hanover County have their own building safety rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
All New Hanover County ordinances
See every category we cover for New Hanover County: parking, noise, fences, fires, animals, pools, and more.
New Hanover County Ordinance Hub →