Land in New Hanover County, NC
Who keeps the records, who zones the land, which wetland and coastal rules apply, and what is driving growth in New Hanover County.
New Hanover County at a glance
- County seat
- Wilmington
- Land area
- About 192 square miles
- Population
- 225,702 (2020 Census) to about 245,959 (2025 estimate), up 9%
- Deeds
- New Hanover County Register of Deeds
- Property records
- New Hanover County Tax Department
- Wetland permits
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
Who zones the land
New Hanover County zones the unincorporated parts of the county. These incorporated places set their own zoning: Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville 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 New Hanover County
- At 192 square miles of land, New Hanover is the smallest county on these pages, so raw land is scarce and infill and redevelopment matter more here than anywhere nearby.
- GE Vernova and GE Aerospace operate a large campus at Castle Hayne in the north of the county.
Questions about land in New Hanover County
Where are deeds recorded in New Hanover County, NC?
Deeds in New Hanover County are recorded by the New Hanover County Register of Deeds.
Who keeps property records in New Hanover County?
The New Hanover County Tax Department keeps the property records: owner, mailing address, acreage and assessed value. Land Shark shows every parcel in New Hanover County with its owner on one map.
Who handles zoning in New Hanover County?
The county zones unincorporated land. Incorporated places such as Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach set their own zoning, so check which jurisdiction a parcel is in first.
Who regulates wetlands in New Hanover 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 New Hanover County
Researching a tract in New Hanover 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 New Hanover 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.