Wilmington Building Permit Office
Wilmington
City of Wilmington
302-576-3050
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
800 N French Street, 3rd Floor, Wilmington, Delaware, 19801
Building permits inside Wilmington, North Carolina involve two separate local authorities. The City of Wilmington controls zoning, development review, historic-preservation approvals and related land-use matters, while New Hanover County issues building permits for property within Wilmington city limits.
This division is especially important when starting an application. City zoning and development applications use Wilmington’s Development & Permitting Services system, while building permits, building inspections and permit-status records are handled through New Hanover County’s COAST system.
Wilmington Uses City Review and County Building Permits
Zoning and development approvals
The City reviews compliance with its Land Development Code. City functions include zoning permits, development review, zoning verification, floodplain certification and historic-preservation review where applicable.
Building permits and inspections
New Hanover County Building Safety issues the building permit and administers building-code inspections for projects located inside Wilmington. Applications and permit records are managed through COAST.
A Wilmington address does not mean the City of Wilmington issues the building permit. The City’s own permit information directs building-permit applicants to New Hanover County. City approvals may still need to be completed before or alongside the county building review.
Check Wilmington Zoning Requirements First
The City instructs applicants to confirm that a proposed structure or alteration complies with Wilmington’s Land Development Code before applying for the county building permit. Zoning issues can affect placement, use, site design and whether another city approval is required.
- Zoning: verify that the proposed structure and use are allowed on the property.
- New development: projects classified by the City as new development must begin with a Pre-TRC Consultation through Wilmington’s Development & Permitting Services platform.
- Historic property: alterations in local historic districts or overlay districts may require a Certificate of Appropriateness.
- Floodplain matters: Wilmington zoning staff handle floodplain certification requests for property within the city.
- Change of use: a change in how a property is used can trigger a separate City zoning permit even when construction work is also being reviewed by the County.
City zoning applications, Minor Certificates of Appropriateness, zoning verification requests and floodplain certifications can be submitted through Wilmington’s online DPS portal.
From City Approval to a New Hanover County Permit
Confirm City land-use requirements
Determine whether the project needs zoning approval, development review, historic review or another Wilmington approval. New development projects subject to the City’s development-review process begin with a Pre-TRC Consultation in DPS.
Submit the building permit through COAST
New Hanover County’s Customer Online Application & Services Tool, known as COAST, is the online system for building-permit applications. After signing in, the applicant selects the applicable permit type and completes the information requested for that permit.
Respond to review requirements
The required documents depend on the work and permit type. New Hanover County publishes separate forms for matters such as permit revisions, owner exemptions, plan-review responses, partial certificates and temporary or partial certificates of occupancy. Required material should follow the specific COAST application rather than a generic project checklist.
Track the permit and schedule inspections
COAST provides access to permit status, invoices and inspection scheduling. County inspection prerequisites must be completed in the required order before later inspections become available.
Complete final City and County requirements
For projects inside Wilmington, the final approval path does not end with the County’s building-code review. Wilmington states that a Certificate of Occupancy cannot be issued until a City compliance officer has inspected the completed work and determined that it complies with the approved permit and the City’s Land Development Code.
Wilmington DPS and County COAST Serve Different Purposes
Planning, zoning and development
The City’s Development & Permitting Services platform supports city applications and lets registered users submit documents, follow application progress, resubmit material and pay City invoices.
Building permits and inspections
COAST is used for New Hanover County building-permit applications, permit-status searches, payments and inspection requests. Public permit searches can also be used to locate permits associated with an address.
Scheduling New Hanover County Building Inspections
Building inspections are requested through COAST under the issued permit. New Hanover County states that an inspection requested through the portal before 3:30 p.m. can be scheduled for the next business day, subject to the required inspection sequence and prerequisites.
- County inspections are performed between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
- The County does not guarantee a specific inspection time.
- The assigned inspector’s name and telephone number can be found through the “Today’s Inspections” area in COAST by searching the permit number.
- COAST does not provide a same-day inspection cancellation function. The County directs customers needing a same-day cancellation to contact the assigned inspector.
New Hanover County also offers live remote inspections for certain eligible residential inspection types. Eligibility and scheduling instructions are published separately by Building Safety and should be checked for the particular inspection before requesting that option.
Work That Wilmington Directs to County Building Safety
The City identifies building permits as required for work including new buildings and structures, changes of building use, demolition, alterations, remodeling, upfits, expansions, accessory structures, mobile homes and building relocation or new construction within Wilmington.
Electrical, mechanical and plumbing work may also be part of the County permitting process. New Hanover County’s current residential and commercial fee schedules distinguish stand-alone trade permits from projects in which trade permits are included with the main construction permit.
County requirements vary by project. COAST and the Building Safety forms library should be used to identify the current submission requirements for the exact permit rather than relying on a general construction-document list.
Building and City Review Fees Are Separate
New Hanover County maintains separate residential and commercial Building Safety fee schedules. Residential new construction and additions use a square-foot calculation and include applicable electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits under the County’s published schedule. Commercial new construction, additions and larger alterations use valuation and area-based calculations described by the County.
Wilmington also maintains its own fees for zoning and development functions. Because a project can involve both City approval and County permitting, charges from the two authorities should not be treated as a single permit fee.
Projects That May Need More Than a Building Permit
Work affecting buildings or structures in Wilmington local historic districts or overlay districts can require a Certificate of Appropriateness from the City.
New development and redevelopment can require City development review before construction proceeds. Wilmington routes new development projects through the DPS system beginning with Pre-TRC consultation.
New Hanover County Environmental Health maintains separate applications and forms for wells, septic systems, food establishments, public swimming pools and other regulated facilities. Those approvals are separate from a standard building permit when they apply to the project.
Wilmington and New Hanover County Permit Resources
Wilmington Building Permit Guidance
City explanation of zoning review and New Hanover County’s role as the building-permit authority.
Development Review
Requirements for new development, redevelopment and Pre-TRC consultation within Wilmington.
Zoning Compliance
Zoning permits, certifications, floodplain requests and City compliance information.
New Hanover County Permitting
Building Safety links for applications, permit status, payments, inspections and permit forms.
COAST
County portal for building-permit applications, permit records and inspection requests.
Building Safety Inspections
County scheduling rules, inspector contact instructions and inspection information.
Building Safety Forms
Current County forms for building permits, revisions, certificates and related approvals.
Wilmington Historic Districts
City information for properties where historic-preservation approval may apply.