New Hanover County, NC building permits
Where to search a permit, what it costs, how inspections work. Office facts checked 2026-11-03.
New Hanover County Building Safety
- Office
- 230 Government Center Dr., Wilmington, NC 28403
- Phone
- 910-798-7311
- coast@nhcgov.com
- Website
- www.nhcgov.com/202/Building-Safety
- Covers
- Unincorporated county plus the City of Wilmington and Carolina Beach (with municipal zoning approval).
Search New Hanover County permit records
COAST (Customer Online Application & Services Tool)
COAST shows where a permit is in review, inspection results and the day's inspection list; the county also publishes a GIS map of every building permit issued in the current year.
Permit fees
Residential major work: $400 minimum including all trade permits, otherwise $0.221 per square foot; single residential trade permits $60; commercial minor permits $75; a $50 excessive-inspections fee after two failed inspections. Current fee schedule.
Scheduling an inspection
Request in COAST before 3:30 p.m. for the next business day; about 300 inspections a day; live remote inspections where eligible.
Permits by contractor
The county's current-year permit map is address-based; a contractor-named export has been requested.