Hurricane Preparedness in North Carolina (2026)
29 rules on the books across North Carolina, 27 cities and counties. Select a rule to read the full details.
Severity: Few Restrictions · Light Restrictions · Some Restrictions · Significant Restrictions · Heavy Restrictions
Roof Standards
Wind-resistant roofing requirements including strap attachments, material ratings, and inspection requirements for hurricane-prone areas.
Flood Elevation
Minimum elevation requirements for structures in flood zones, including freeboard standards above base flood elevation and elevation certificate requirements.
Asheville
Significant RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements in Asheville's special flood hazard areas must have their lowest floor…
Read full rule →Cleveland County
Significant RestrictionsNew and substantially improved residential and nonresidential structures inside an unincorporated Cleveland County…
Read full rule →Harnett County
Significant RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements in Harnett County's mapped flood zones must elevate the reference level…
Read full rule →Pender County
Significant RestrictionsIn Pender County's coastal high hazard, storm-surge zones (Zone VE), new construction and substantial improvements must…
Read full rule →Raleigh
Significant RestrictionsRaleigh bars building permits for new or substantially improved homes in a Special Flood Hazard Area unless the lowest…
Read full rule →Union County
Significant RestrictionsNew and substantially improved homes and manufactured homes in a Union County flood hazard area must have their lowest…
Read full rule →Apex
Some RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements in Apex's mapped flood hazard areas, inside town limits and the…
Read full rule →Brunswick County
Some RestrictionsBefore rebuilding after hurricane damage in unincorporated Brunswick County's flood hazard areas, owners must meet the…
Read full rule →Carteret County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Carteret County, every new building and substantial improvement in a special flood hazard area must…
Read full rule →Chapel Hill
Some RestrictionsNew and substantially improved homes in Chapel Hill's mapped flood hazard areas must have their lowest floor built no…
Read full rule →Franklin County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Franklin County's mapped Special Flood Hazard Areas, new residential construction and substantial…
Read full rule →Granville County
Some RestrictionsIn flood-prone parts of unincorporated Granville County, Sec. 32-330 requires new residential construction to have its…
Read full rule →Greenville
Some RestrictionsAny new or substantially improved residential structure in a Greenville special flood hazard area must have its lowest…
Read full rule →Guilford County
Some RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements in Special Flood Hazard Areas of unincorporated Guilford County must sit…
Read full rule →Johnston County
Some RestrictionsNew construction and substantial improvements inside a Johnston County Special Flood Hazard Area must be anchored…
Read full rule →Kill Devil Hills
Some RestrictionsKill Devil Hills requires homes in its flood-vulnerable Shaded X and X zones to meet a locally adopted elevation…
Read full rule →Lincoln County
Some RestrictionsIn unincorporated Lincoln County, new and substantially improved residential structures, including manufactured homes…
Read full rule →Nash County
Some RestrictionsNew homes and substantially improved residential structures in Nash County's mapped special flood hazard areas must sit…
Read full rule →Pitt County
Some RestrictionsNew homes and substantial remodels in a Pitt County flood zone must sit at or above the Regulatory Flood Protection…
Read full rule →Rose Hill
Some RestrictionsRose Hill requires new construction and substantial improvements in its Special Flood Hazard Areas to elevate both…
Read full rule →Rowan County
Some RestrictionsRowan County requires every new or substantially improved building in a mapped flood hazard area to sit at or above the…
Read full rule →Sampson County
Some RestrictionsBefore breaking ground on new construction in a Sampson County Special Flood Hazard Area, the permit holder must give…
Read full rule →Shelby
Some RestrictionsShelby requires new and substantially improved residential structures in mapped special flood hazard areas to elevate…
Read full rule →Surry County
Some RestrictionsIn special flood hazard areas of unincorporated Surry County, new construction and substantial improvements, including…
Read full rule →Wayne County
Some RestrictionsNew homes and substantial improvements in a mapped special flood hazard area of unincorporated Wayne County must have…
Read full rule →Storm Debris
Rules for pre-storm yard preparation, post-storm debris placement for pickup, and timelines for property cleanup after hurricanes.
Iredell County
Some RestrictionsIredell County gives property owners one year after fire marshal and insurance investigations wrap up to clear solid…
Read full rule →Surry County
Some RestrictionsA temporary structure placed in a Surry County special flood hazard area needs a Floodplain Administrator-approved…
Read full rule →Rockingham County
Few RestrictionsRockingham County's franchised curbside trash service does not cover storm debris. The county ordinance lists storm…
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