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May 2026 Building Permits

Official permit data from New Hanover County— updated Mon, Wed & Fri from the county permitting office.

New Hanover County, NC issued 1,933 building permits in May 2026, down 12% from the prior month. The most active zip code was 28412 with 306 permits. Residential Trade Permit was the top permit type, making up 37% of all permits issued.

Permits issued
1,933
vs. prior month
-12%
2,201 last month
Most active zip
28412
306 permits
Top permit type
Residential Trade Permit
37% of total

Permit activity by zip code

Top 10 zip codes by permit volume — May 2026

28412
306
28411
279
28403
270
28409
269
28401
263
28405
223
28428
111
28429
102
28480
58
28449
40

Permits by type

May 2026 · New Hanover County, NC

Residential Trade Permit
706 (37%)
Commercial Trade Permit
291 (15%)
Residential Building
202 (10%)
Residential Electrical
127 (7%)
FLI Public Swimming Pool
71 (4%)
Residential Accessory
68 (4%)
Commercial Electrical
67 (3%)
Commercial Building
45 (2%)
Residential Plumbing
45 (2%)
Residential Addition
37 (2%)
Land Disturbance Permit
33 (2%)
Residential Mechanical
33 (2%)
Commercial Plumbing
30 (2%)
Commercial Sign
22 (1%)
FLI Body Art
20 (1%)
Commercial Mechanical
19 (1%)
Commercial Accessory
13 (1%)
Residential Demolition
13 (1%)
Residential Mechanical Gas Piping
12 (1%)
FLI Temporary Food Establishment
10 (1%)
Commercial ALE
9 (0%)
OSWP Well Permit
8 (0%)
Commercial Mechanical Gas Piping
6 (0%)
Stormwater Permit
6 (0%)
FLI Change of Ownership/Remodel
5 (0%)
OSWP Septic Repair Permit
5 (0%)
Commercial Demolition
4 (0%)
Fire Tent or Air Supported Structure
3 (0%)
OSWP Construction Authorization
3 (0%)
OSWP LSS Option
3 (0%)
Residential Mechanical Venting
3 (0%)
Building Safety Fire ERRCS
2 (0%)
Floodplain Development Permit
2 (0%)
OSWP System Re-use Permit
2 (0%)
Building Safety Fire Alarm & Detection
1 (0%)
Building Safety Fire Auto Extinguishing System
1 (0%)
Commercial Cell Tower Equipment Modification
1 (0%)
Fire Carnivals & Fairs
1 (0%)
Fire Foster Care
1 (0%)
OSWP Engineered Option
1 (0%)
OSWP Water Sample
1 (0%)
Residential Mechanical Gas Appliances
1 (0%)

Other months — New Hanover County

July 2026June 2026April 2026March 2026February 2026
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