Bolthole Index

Brunswick County, North Carolina

Zoning, building permits and septic rules in Carolina Shores, North Carolina

The Town of Carolina Shores, North Carolina has its own zoning code, and building permits inside town limits come from the town's Inspections Division12. Septic and well permits are not issued by the town; North Carolina law routes them through the local health department, which in Brunswick County is Environmental Health Services34. Brunswick County's rules for unincorporated land do not apply inside the town.

At a glance

Building permit
Required inside town limits; issued by the town Inspections Division52
Zoning
Yes, the town divides itself into zoning districts under its own Unified Development Ordinance16
Septic permits
Not a town permit; county Environmental Health Services is the local health department (town-specific rule not confirmed)34
Tiny houses
Allowed with limits: 699 sq ft or less, permanent foundation, public water, sewer and electric7
R-15 lot size
15,000 sq ft minimum, 75 ft wide8
R-15 setbacks
Front 30 ft, side 10 ft, rear 25 ft9
RV living
Not confirmed; ask the town Inspections Division2
Owner-builder
State exemption exists; town procedure not confirmed10

Who to call

Building permits

Town of Carolina Shores Inspections Division

Building permits, all-trades inspections and State Building Code enforcement inside town limits

910-575-4877

200 Persimmon Road, Carolina Shores, NC 28467

Septic permits

Brunswick County Environmental Health Services

Septic (on-site wastewater) permits and well permits for Brunswick County

910-253-2150

25 Courthouse Drive, Building A, Bolivia, NC 28422

Contact details are copied from each office’s official page and were checked against it on October 24, 2026.

Off-grid gear

Going off-grid in Town of Carolina Shores means bringing your own water and power. The kit we’d start with:

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Does Carolina Shores, NC have zoning, and what does it mean for lot size and setbacks?

Yes. The Town of Carolina Shores is divided into primary zoning districts under its own code1, and the town publishes those districts and their use table6. Brunswick County's zoning ordinance covers land outside the planning jurisdiction of other governments, so the county's district rules are not the ones that decide what you can do on a lot inside the town11.

Rules differ by district. In the R-15 Residential District, the minimum lot area is 15,000 square feet and the minimum lot width is 75 feet8. R-15 setbacks are 30 feet in front, 10 feet on each side and 25 feet in the rear, and an accessory building must sit at least 10 feet from any lot line9. Maximum building height in R-15 is 35 feet12. A corner lot's side-street setback is half the front-yard requirement9.

Manufactured homes on individual lots are limited to the MFH I, MFH II, AD and PRD districts13. We did not find a general minimum dwelling size, a principal-building lot-coverage cap or an agricultural exemption in the town's code, so ask the Planning & Zoning staff at town hall before you rely on any of those.

Do you need a building permit in Carolina Shores, and who issues it?

Yes. Carolina Shores requires a permit from its Inspections Division before construction and before building, plumbing, mechanical and electrical work listed in the town code5. The town adopts the North Carolina State Building Code by reference14, and the Inspections Division handles both permits and inspections inside town limits2. Brunswick County Code Administration serves unincorporated land, so the county's permit counter is the wrong office for an address inside the town15.

Fees are set by the Board of Commissioners and filed with the Building Inspector; the code states a $200 fee for demolishing an existing building16. For other fees, call the Inspections Division at 910-575-4877; it is open Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm, with a lunch closure2.

State law exempts some small repair jobs costing $40,000 or less in a single-family home from a state-law permit, but not structural, plumbing-design, HVAC, electrical or fire-code work, so confirm with the town before skipping a permit17.

How do septic and well permits work inside Carolina Shores?

The town is not the septic permit office. North Carolina has local health departments issue improvement permits, construction authorizations, inspections and operation permits in the ordinary process3, and private well permits come from the local health department for the county where the well is located18. Brunswick County Environmental Health Services issues septic and well permits for the county194.

We could not confirm any town rule on septic systems, wells or inspections for properties inside Carolina Shores, so call Environmental Health Services at 910-253-2150 to confirm which office handles your address and whether your lot is on a public sewer line19.

For planning, Brunswick County's own fee schedule lists $515 for an improvement permit application up to 500 gallons per day and $300 for a new well permit20. Across Brunswick County, only 4.6% of soils rate as not limited for a conventional drain field, so a site evaluation and sometimes an engineered system are likely where public sewer is not available21.

Can you live in a tiny house or RV in Carolina Shores?

Tiny houses are allowed under the town code with conditions. A tiny house must not exceed 699 square feet, must be a use the district allows, must meet the State Building Code, and must sit on a permanent foundation with wind-resistant tie-downs7. It must also be connected to public water, sewer and electric utilities22, so an off-grid tiny house is not an option inside town limits23. State guidance accepts tiny homes as permanent dwellings when the local building official permits them and local zoning and setbacks are met24.

We could not confirm whether the town allows long-term RV occupancy or temporary camping on a private lot. Brunswick County's RV rules apply only to unincorporated land, so do not assume they carry over. Ask the Inspections Division and the town's planning staff in writing before parking an RV on a lot and living in it2.

Building a home in Carolina Shores: the steps, in order

  1. Call town hall at 910-575-4877 to confirm your lot's zoning district and its lot, setback and height standards29.
  2. Ask Brunswick County Environmental Health Services whether your lot needs a septic permit and a well permit, or connects to public sewer and water19.
  3. Check whether any part of the lot is in a Special Flood Hazard Area; development there needs a floodplain development permit25.
  4. If you plan a driveway or work in the town right-of-way, get a zoning permit from the UDO Administrator first26.
  5. Apply for the building permit with the town Inspections Division at 200 Persimmon Road52.
  6. Request inspections as work reaches each inspection point; work cannot proceed past those points without the Building Inspector's approval27.
  7. Get a certificate of occupancy before anyone moves in28.

What stays with Brunswick County, and what should you check before you buy in Carolina Shores?

Septic and well permits stay with the county health department rather than the town3. For land outside the town, use the Brunswick County page, because the county's building, zoning and RV rules differ from the town's.

Owner-builders: North Carolina lets a person build on land they own for their own occupancy, with an affidavit, and presumes no qualifying intent if the owner does not live there for 12 months after completion10. We did not find an owner-builder procedure in the town's code, so ask the Inspections Division how it applies2.

Taxes are county-level: Brunswick County's effective property tax rate is 0.6% and the median bill is $1,789 a year2930. Check flood zones before buying, because the town requires a floodplain development permit in Special Flood Hazard Areas25.

Watch-outs

  • Do not use Brunswick County Code Administration or county zoning for an address inside Carolina Shores; the town's Inspections Division issues building permits there25.
  • A tiny house in Carolina Shores must connect to public water, sewer and electric utilities, so off-grid setups do not fit inside town limits22.
  • We could not confirm the town's rules on RV living, camping, private wells or septic systems inside town limits; call town hall at 910-575-4877 and Brunswick County Environmental Health Services at 910-253-2150 before you buy219.
  • Many Carolina Shores neighborhoods have homeowner or property owner associations, and the town's FAQ tells residents to check with their HOA or POA before asking about fences or pools2.

Sources

  1. § 91.72 Primary Zoning Districts (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  2. Town of Carolina Shores Inspections Division (carolinashoresnc.com)
  3. G.S. 130A-335. Wastewater systems (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  4. Environmental Health, quoted and re-checked
  5. § 90.30 Permits Required; Building Permit (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  6. § 91.72 Primary Zoning Districts (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  7. § 91.103 Tiny Houses (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  8. § 91.75 Zoning District Development Standards (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  9. § 91.75 Zoning District Development Standards (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  10. G.S. 87-1. "General contractor" defined; exceptions. (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  11. Unified Development Ordinance (UDO), quoted and re-checked
  12. § 91.75 Zoning District Development Standards (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  13. § 91.74 Table of Permitted/Special Uses (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  14. § 90.02 Building Code Adopted (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  15. Do I Need a Permit?, quoted and re-checked
  16. § 90.38 Permit Fees, Inspection Fees (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  17. G.S. 160D-1110. Building permits. (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  18. Rules Governing the Permitting and Inspection of Private Drinking Water Wells, 15A NCAC 02C .0300 (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  19. Brunswick County Environmental Health Services (brunswickcountync.gov)
  20. Fee Schedules, quoted and re-checked
  21. Share of soils USDA rates "not limited" for a conventional septic drain field (SSURGO). A strict rating: the median county is about 6% and a tenth of counties are 0%, so a low figure means most lots need a site evaluation or an engineered system, not that septic is impossible. Cite it only with that caveat: Bolthole Index county data
  22. § 91.103 Tiny Houses (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  23. § 91.103 Tiny Houses (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  24. Guidelines for Tiny Homes in North Carolina (North Carolina statewide rule), quoted and re-checked
  25. § 91.246 Establishment of Floodplain Development Permit (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  26. § 91.33 Permit to Construct Driveway Required (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  27. § 90.19 Inspection Procedure (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  28. § 90.19 Inspection Procedure (Town of Carolina Shores), quoted and re-checked
  29. Effective property tax rate: Bolthole Index county data
  30. Median property tax bill: Bolthole Index county data

Written October 24, 2026 from the rules quoted below, each taken from an official source and re-checked by an independent reviewer. This is research, not legal advice: rules change, so confirm with the office before you buy or build.

Answers from the rulebook for Town of Carolina Shores

Town of Carolina Shores’s own rules

  • Building permitRequired

    Construction and listed building, plumbing, mechanical, and electrical work inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Permit requirement applies where required by the North Carolina State Building Codes or other applicable state or local law or ordinance.
    “without first securing from the Inspection Division each permit required”
  • Building code adoptedAdopted (with conditions)

    Buildings and technical-code work inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • The adopted codes are the currently approved editions adopted by the North Carolina Building Code Council, as amended.
    “The currently approved edition of the North Carolina State Building Code [...] is hereby adopted by reference”
  • InspectionsRequired

    Buildings, structures, and work for which a permit has been issued inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Permit holder or agent must notify the Inspection Division when work is ready and provide access; work cannot proceed beyond successive inspection points without Building Inspector approval.
    “The Inspection Division shall inspect all buildings and structures”
  • Certificate of occupancyRequired

    New buildings, additions, enlargements, moved or altered buildings, and changes of occupancy inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • A temporary certificate may issue for safely occupiable portions before final completion; final certificate follows examination and inspection showing conformance with this chapter, regulatory codes, and zoning code.
    “until the Inspection Division has issued a certificate of occupancy therefor.”
  • Local zoningPresent (with conditions)

    Land inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Uses and development are subject to the Unified Development Ordinance and applicable district regulations.
    “the town is hereby divided into the following primary zoning districts.”
  • Zoning districtsPublished (with conditions)

    Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Conditional zoning and site-specific standards may also apply.
    “the town is hereby divided into the following primary zoning districts.”
  • Tiny homesLimited

    Tiny houses inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Must not exceed 699 square feet; must be allowed under § 91.74; must comply with State Building Code; must be permanently founded, tied down, and connected to public water, sewer, and electric; wheels must be removed if constructed on a travel chassis; and must comply with the applicable zoning district.

    maximum size: <= 699 sq ft (Includes container homes)

    “Tiny houses not exceeding 699 square feet in size”
  • Manufactured homesLimited

    Manufactured homes on individual lots inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • The permitted-use table limits individual-lot manufactured homes to MFH I, MFH II, AD, and PRD districts.
    “Dwelling, manufactured home (on individual lot)”
  • Off-grid sanitationLimited

    Tiny houses inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Tiny houses must be connected to public water, sewer, and electric utilities; the source does not establish a general rule for every dwelling type.
    “connected to public water, sewer, and electric utilities.”
  • Mandatory utility hookupWater and sewer (with conditions)

    Tiny houses inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Tiny house must not exceed 699 square feet, must be allowed by § 91.74, must meet State Building Code, must be on permanent foundation with wind-resistant tie-downs, and must meet district UDO requirements.

    maximum tiny-house size: <= 699 sq ft

    “connected to public water, sewer, and electric utilities.”
  • Driveway accessRequired

    Driveway construction, reconstruction, or repair within a Carolina Shores town right-of-way.

    • Requires a zoning permit from the UDO Administrator, supervision by that administrator, and town standards; minor sealing and crack-patching repairs may be exempted.
    “without first obtaining from the UDO Administrator a zoning permit”
  • Building in a floodplainRequired

    Development activities within Special Flood Hazard Areas inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Requirement applies before commencement and is subject to §§ 91.240 through 91.263 and the Special Flood Hazard Area determination under § 91.245.
    “A floodplain development permit shall be required”
  • Permit feesVariable (with conditions)

    Building permits inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Fees are established by the Board of Commissioners and filed with the Building Inspector; estimated cost cannot be below comparable market value determined by inspector.

    demolition permit fee: 200 USD (Requires a letter of credit or surety bond equal to 10% of Brunswick County Tax Assessor tax value.)

    “Demolition permit fees for the demolition of an existing building shall be $200”

Rules another office applies inside Town of Carolina Shores

Town of Carolina Shores does not set these itself; the county, a health district or the state does, and they apply to every address inside its limits.

  • Minimum lot sizeDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-15 Residential District inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Subject to the R-15 dimensional requirements.

    minimum lot area: >= 15000 sq ft · minimum lot width: >= 75 ft

    “(A) Minimum lot area | 15,000 sq. ft. (B) Minimum lot width | 75 ft. (C) Minimum front yard | 30 ft. (D) Minimum side yards | 10 ft. (E) Minimum rear yard | 25 ft. (F) Maximum building height | 35 ft.”
  • SetbacksDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-15 Residential District inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Corner-lot side-street setback is one-half the front-yard requirement; accessory-building setback applies to any lot line.

    minimum front yard: >= 30 ft · minimum side yard: >= 10 ft · minimum rear yard: >= 25 ft · accessory building setback: >= 10 ft (Any lot line)

    “(A) Minimum lot area | 15,000 sq. ft. (B) Minimum lot width | 75 ft. (C) Minimum front yard | 30 ft. (D) Minimum side yards | 10 ft. (E) Minimum rear yard | 25 ft. (F) Maximum building height | 35 ft.”
  • Building heightDistrict specific (with conditions)

    R-15 Residential District inside Carolina Shores town limits.

    • Subject to applicable height-limitation exceptions in the UDO.

    maximum building height: <= 35 ft

    “(A) Minimum lot area | 15,000 sq. ft. (B) Minimum lot width | 75 ft. (C) Minimum front yard | 30 ft. (D) Minimum side yards | 10 ft. (E) Minimum rear yard | 25 ft. (F) Maximum building height | 35 ft.”

Still unanswered

We looked and could not find an official answer yet. Silence is not permission; ask Town of Carolina Shores or Brunswick County directly.

  • Owner-builder exemption — Owner-builder work inside Carolina Shores town limits.
  • Minimum dwelling size — Dwellings inside Carolina Shores town limits.
  • Lot coverage — Principal-building lot coverage inside Carolina Shores town limits.
  • Living in an RV — Long-term RV occupancy on private land inside Carolina Shores town limits.
  • Camping on your land — Temporary camping on private land inside Carolina Shores town limits.
5 more unanswered
  • Who permits septic
  • Septic permit
  • Septic inspection
  • Well permit
  • Agricultural exemption

Each answer was extracted from an official source and independently re-checked against that source by a second reviewer. That is an evidence check, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm with the authority before you buy or build.

Unanswered questions are usually a sign that Town of Carolina Shores publishes no rule on the point, not that none exists. Brunswick County’s page lists the county offices to call.

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