Land in Pender County, NC
Who keeps the records, who zones the land, which wetland and coastal rules apply, and what is driving growth in Pender County.
Pender County at a glance
- County seat
- Burgaw
- Land area
- About 871 square miles
- Population
- 60,203 (2020 Census) to about 72,111 (2025 estimate), up 19.8%
- Deeds
- Pender County Register of Deeds
- Property records
- Pender County Tax Administration
- Wetland permits
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District
Who zones the land
Pender County zones the unincorporated parts of the county. These incorporated places set their own zoning: Burgaw, Surf City, Topsail 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 Pender County
- Pender grew about 20% from 2020 to 2025 as Wilmington-area growth moved north along US-17 and I-40.
- Holly Shelter Game Land, a large state-managed tract, takes up a big part of the central county.
Questions about land in Pender County
Where are deeds recorded in Pender County, NC?
Deeds in Pender County are recorded by the Pender County Register of Deeds.
Who keeps property records in Pender County?
The Pender County Tax Administration keeps the property records: owner, mailing address, acreage and assessed value. Land Shark shows every parcel in Pender County with its owner on one map.
Who handles zoning in Pender County?
The county zones unincorporated land. Incorporated places such as Burgaw, Surf City, Topsail Beach set their own zoning, so check which jurisdiction a parcel is in first.
Who regulates wetlands in Pender 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 Pender County
Researching a tract in Pender 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 Pender 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.