Carteret County, NC Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Carteret County's flood damage prevention ordinance (Chapter 7) requires a floodplain development permit under § 7-38 before any "development activity" begins in a special flood hazard area mapped on the county's FEMA flood insurance rate map, per the June 19, 2020 flood insurance study adopted by reference in § 7-37. "Development" reaches far beyond new houses: filling, grading, paving, mining, drilling, and even placing bulkheads, piers, pools, docks, or fences in a floodway all count. Under § 7-67, applicants must submit a scaled plot plan showing the special flood hazard boundary and flood zone, proposed elevations referenced to NAVD 1988, a foundation plan, and, for new construction, an elevation certificate (FEMA Form 086-0-33) before work starts and again after the reference level is set and after construction is finished, before a certificate of occupancy issues.

The Carteret County Director of Planning and Development serves as floodplain administrator under § 7-66 and can issue stop-work orders, revoke permits, and order corrective action under § 7-69, including a hearing within ten days of notice and up to 180 days to fix a violation. Variances go to the county's zoning board of adjustment under § 7-70, which must find good cause, exceptional hardship, and no added flood risk before granting one, and must warn the applicant in writing that building below the base flood elevation can raise flood insurance premiums by as much as $25.00 per $100.00 of coverage.

Section 7-39 requires full compliance before any structure or land is located, extended, converted, altered, or developed, and § 7-43 makes any violation, including breach of a variance condition, a Class 1 misdemeanor under G.S. § 143-215.58.