Who issues it
New Hanover County Building Safety issues building and trade permits for homes inside the City of Wilmington, through its COAST portal. The City handles zoning: if a permit "is on hold by CFPUA or the City of Wilmington", the County's FAQ says to contact them directly (City Zoning 910-254-0900). The County's permit chart marks a "New House" for building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, zoning and plan review, with the note "Requires separate pool permit if applicable"; connecting to water or sewer brings "Additional CFPUA fees", CFPUA on 910-332-6560.
What it costs
From the County's Permit Cost page, read 23 October 2026:
| Fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| Residential new construction (includes electrical, mechanical, plumbing) | $0.441 per sq ft under roof, $400 minimum |
| At-risk foundation permit | $250 administrative fee (FAQ) |
| Excessive inspections (after 2 failed) | $50 |
| Starting work without a permit | $100 |
| Occupying before the certificate of occupancy | $100 day 1 / $300 day 2 / $500 each later day |
| Cancellation | Refund minus 25% or $60, whichever is greater; none once work starts |
Worked examples (our arithmetic): 2,000 sq ft under roof is $882; 3,000 sq ft is $1,323. The fee is on "under roof square footage of structure", so ask how the County will measure your plans before you budget. The Development Services Fees page says building fees use the August 2013 ICC Building Valuation Data and that COAST shows "assessed fees and itemized invoices". CFPUA and any City zoning fees are on top.
Starting the foundation early
The FAQ's at-risk foundation permit "allows you to begin site and foundation work (grading, excavation, footings, stem walls, slabs, and underground utilities tied to the foundation) before your full building permit is approved". Vertical construction and "Mechanical, electrical, or plumbing rough-ins above foundation" are not allowed, and before issue the County wants a pre-submittal meeting, sealed foundation drawings and site plans, and an approved erosion and sedimentation control plan. The owner or developer and the general contractor sign a Hold Harmless & Indemnification Agreement and pay $250, and "You are responsible for all costs, delays, and redesign fees"; the at-risk permit "does not guarantee full permit approval or a certificate of occupancy".
Who can build it
A licensed general contractor. The County's FAQ says "Projects valued at $40,000 or more generally require a licensed General Contractor" and adds "Labor and materials both count toward project value. Splitting purchases does not avoid licensing requirements." Check the license and its limitation on the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors search.
You, as owner-builder, within the County's terms: "Generally intended for owners who will occupy the home as their primary residence for at least 12 consecutive months", and it "May not apply to" LLC-owned, investment, resale or rental properties.
Inspections, expiry and the CO
- Book in COAST before 3:30 p.m. for the next business day; inspections run 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and are sequenced "per the North Carolina Department of Insurance", so COAST will not take them out of order.
- Expiry: six months if work does not start, or 12 months of stopped work after it does (G.S. 160D-1111, quoted on the FAQ). The FAQ lists what the County counts as "work" for keeping a permit alive, including a "Timely request for permit continuance".
- Certificate of Occupancy. The record shows "Certificate of Occupancy (CO) Issued" at the end (how to read COAST statuses). Partial COs are requested by email to coast@nhcgov.com with the permit number.
- Trees and historic districts: the FAQ warns that protected trees, "especially Live Oaks, may require permits before removal", and that exterior work in historic districts may need approval first.
What 1,717 Wilmington new-home permits show
| Measure | Wilmington new homes |
|---|---|
| Permits, October 2023 to September 2026 | 1,717 |
| Builders | 222 |
| Builders with a permit in the 12 months to September 2026 | 118 |
| Usual filed value | $258,519 |
| Middle half of builders' usual value | $165,435 to $367,927 |
| Completed (permits a year or more old) | 96.8% |
| Usual days from issue to final | 244 |
| 10th-percentile builder (10+ permits) | 91.5% |
| Builders with one permit | 115 (51.8%) |
| Busiest / quietest month (index, 100 = average) | October (175) / June (71) |
Plan on eight months: the usual permit took 244 days from issue to final. Builders here finish what they start, with even the 10th-percentile busy builder at 91.5%, so the record that separates them is volume and recency. The busiest in the 12 months to September 2026 was Pulte Home Company LLC, with 98 permits, while 51.8% of builders filed one. The filed value is mostly the County's fee-table valuation, not a contract price. Prices by home value: Wilmington new home cost.
See every Wilmington home builder by permits completed →
Related
Other places' rules: do I need a permit to build a house. The checklist: hiring a home builder; national prices: new home construction cost. License steps: Wilmington contractor license lookup; counts by year: Wilmington permit statistics.
What this does not tell you
Our Wilmington view is homes inside the City limits; beach towns and unincorporated New Hanover County are not in it. Days to final start at permit issue, after plan review. North Carolina publishes no bulk license file, so we show no license status for builders.
How we know this
The permit chart, fees and penalties, at-risk foundation rules, owner-builder and $40,000 rules, inspection scheduling and expiry are quoted from New Hanover County's Do I Need a Permit? chart, Permit Cost, Development Services Fees and Building Safety FAQ pages, read 23 October 2026. Counts are New Hanover County new-home permits inside the City of Wilmington, October 2023 to September 2026; "completed" uses permits a year or more old.
Numbers come from New Hanover County Building Safety permits on homes inside the City of Wilmington (the County issues the City's building permits), data through October 16, 2026. Nobody paid to be on this page and nobody can.
Questions
- How much is a new home permit in Wilmington, NC?
New Hanover County charges $0.441 per square foot under roof for residential new construction, with a $400 minimum, and that fee includes all the electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits. A 2,500 sq ft house under roof works out to about $1,103 (our arithmetic). CFPUA water and sewer fees are separate.
- Can I start the foundation before the house permit is approved in Wilmington?
Yes, with New Hanover County's at-risk foundation permit, which allows site and foundation work before the full permit is approved. Owner and general contractor sign a hold-harmless agreement, pay a $250 administrative fee and carry the cost of any redesign or rework.
- How long does a new home permit take to final in Wilmington?
The usual Wilmington new-home permit in our file reached final 244 days after issue, and 96.8% of those a year or more old were completed. Plan review comes before that clock starts.
- Can I build my own house in Wilmington as an owner-builder?
New Hanover County says the owner-builder exemption is generally intended for owners who will live in the home as their primary residence for at least 12 consecutive months, and may not apply to LLC-owned, investment, resale or rental properties. Otherwise, the County says projects valued at $40,000 or more generally require a licensed general contractor.
- What happens if I move in before the certificate of occupancy in Wilmington?
New Hanover County's residential penalty for occupying a structure before receiving a certificate of occupancy is $100 on day 1, $300 on day 2 and $500 each day after.
Build your own list
Every firm with that kind of permit on record. Pick what you value. The list moves.
Related guides
- Albuquerque building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Building a casita in Albuquerque: the 750 sq ft limit, rear-yard rule, parking, free plans, and who builds them
- Do I need a permit to build a house in Albuquerque? GB-2 or homeowner, the plan set and the fee
- Arlington's 2,500-square-foot rule: when an addition or new house needs a Land Disturbing Activity and stormwater permit
For one city
- Wilmington, NC contractor license lookup: which state board, the County's COAST portal and the permits
- Wilmington, NC building permit search: how to look up permits on an address
- Do I need an electrical permit in Wilmington, NC? Outlets, lights, service changes and generators: the County chart, the $60 fee, inspections
- Do I Need a Permit? (residential permit chart) — New Hanover County (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Permit Cost — New Hanover County (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Building Safety Frequently Asked Questions — New Hanover County (accessed 2026-10-23)
- Development Services Fees — New Hanover County (accessed 2026-10-23)
- COAST (Customer Online Application & Services Tool) — New Hanover County (2026-10-23)
- Verify License Search — NC Licensing Board for General Contractors (2026-10-22)