Land in Brunswick County, NC
Who keeps the records, who zones the land, which wetland and coastal rules apply, and what is driving growth in Brunswick County.
Brunswick County at a glance
- County seat
- Bolivia
- Land area
- About 850 square miles
- Population
- 136,693 (2020 Census) to about 174,702 (2025 estimate), up 27.8%
- Deeds
- Brunswick County Register of Deeds
- Property records
- Brunswick County Tax Office
- Wetland permits
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
Who zones the land
Brunswick County zones the unincorporated parts of the county. These incorporated places set their own zoning: Leland, Southport, Oak Island, Shallotte, Sunset Beach, Ocean Isle Beach. A parcel inside town limits follows the town’s ordinance and goes to the town for a rezoning. See how rezoning works in North Carolina.
Wetlands, flood zones and the coast
Wetlands that fall under federal jurisdiction are permitted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District. It is one of the 20 coastal counties under North Carolina’s Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA): development in an Area of Environmental Concern needs a CAMA permit from the NC Division of Coastal Management.
On the coastal plain, wetlands and flood zones decide what much of the land is worth. See wetlands and flood zones and price per upland acre.
What is moving land in Brunswick County
- The NC Office of State Budget and Management named Brunswick the fastest-growing county in North Carolina in 2025, up 24% from 2020 to mid-2024.
- Leland and the US-17 corridor across the river from Wilmington carry much of the new subdivision activity.
Questions about land in Brunswick County
Where are deeds recorded in Brunswick County, NC?
Deeds in Brunswick County are recorded by the Brunswick County Register of Deeds.
Who keeps property records in Brunswick County?
The Brunswick County Tax Office keeps the property records: owner, mailing address, acreage and assessed value. Land Shark shows every parcel in Brunswick County with its owner on one map.
Who handles zoning in Brunswick County?
The county zones unincorporated land. Incorporated places such as Leland, Southport, Oak Island set their own zoning, so check which jurisdiction a parcel is in first.
Who regulates wetlands in Brunswick County?
Federal wetland permits are handled by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District. It is one of the 20 coastal counties under North Carolina’s Coastal Area Management Act (CAMA): development in an Area of Environmental Concern needs a CAMA permit from the NC Division of Coastal Management.
Figures checked October 2026. Population from the U.S. Census Bureau (2020 Census and the July 2025 estimate). This page is general information, not legal advice.
Land Shark in Brunswick County
Researching a tract in Brunswick County means the county's records, the deeds, the zoning, the wetland and flood maps and the town limits, each in a different place. Land Shark puts them together.
- Every parcel and owner in Brunswick County on one map, with flood, wetland and zoning layers.
- Recent sales nearby, priced per upland acre, where the county publishes them.
- The zoning code for the parcel’s district, county or town, one click from the parcel.
- Owners as contacts, every call and letter logged, and alerts when a parcel in your pipeline sells.