Homesteading in North Carolina
Explore 100 counties and state-level regulations for homesteaders in North Carolina.
North Carolina uses a Riparian water rights system , enforces statewide IRC building codes , and requires a carry permit. The effective property tax rate is 0.73%.
State Regulations
Water Rights
System: Riparian
Follows riparian doctrine. Capacity use areas may require withdrawal permits. Registration required for withdrawals over 100,000 gallons per day.
Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-215.11 et seq.
Building Codes
Statewide IRC: Yes (statewide)
NC State Building Code applies statewide; residential code based on IRC. Enforced by local inspection departments.
Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143-136
Gun Laws
Open Carry: Yes
Constitutional Carry: No
Pistol purchase permit required from county sheriff. Concealed handgun permit required. Open carry legal without a permit.
Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-402; N.C. Gen. Stat. § 14-415.11
Right to Farm
Protected: Yes
Protects bona fide farm operations from nuisance suits if the operation has been in existence for at least one year. Includes coming to the nuisance protections for established farms.
Statute: N.C. Gen. Stat. § 106-700 et seq.
Counties in North Carolina
100 counties · Click column headers to sort
| County | Population | Median Home | Property Tax | Growing Days | Overall Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alamance County | 171,779 | $197,700 | $1,385 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Alexander County | 36,505 | $169,300 | $1,165 | 107 | Relatively Low |
| Alleghany County | 10,989 | $171,800 | $1,097 | 104 | Very Low |
| Anson County | 22,200 | $116,300 | $1,042 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Ashe County | 26,759 | $199,200 | $1,116 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Avery County | 17,679 | $215,900 | $911 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Beaufort County | 44,711 | $159,900 | $1,217 | 109 | Relatively Moderate |
| Bertie County | 17,818 | $87,500 | $772 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Bladen County | 29,807 | $115,900 | $1,056 | 114 | Relatively Moderate |
| Brunswick County | 139,721 | $284,100 | $1,659 | 116 | Relatively High |
| Buncombe County | 269,449 | $328,900 | $2,012 | 109 | Relatively Moderate |
| Burke County | 87,799 | $155,500 | $1,120 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Cabarrus County | 226,396 | $281,600 | $2,291 | 110 | Relatively Moderate |
| Caldwell County | 80,716 | $158,300 | $1,067 | 107 | Relatively Low |
| Camden County | 10,547 | $261,000 | $1,689 | 105 | Very Low |
| Carteret County | 68,353 | $277,400 | $1,324 | 112 | Relatively Moderate |
| Caswell County | 22,747 | $138,600 | $957 | 105 | Very Low |
| Catawba County | 161,011 | $194,000 | $1,277 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Chatham County | 76,754 | $373,300 | $2,578 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Cherokee County | 28,868 | $193,500 | $1,002 | 111 | Relatively Low |
| Chowan County | 13,835 | $181,400 | $1,272 | 106 | Very Low |
| Clay County | 11,186 | $251,900 | $1,104 | 111 | Very Low |
| Cleveland County | 99,527 | $155,000 | $1,144 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Columbus County | 50,827 | $119,800 | $1,133 | 115 | Relatively Moderate |
| Craven County | 101,098 | $194,100 | $1,351 | 111 | Relatively Moderate |
| Cumberland County | 335,207 | $166,600 | $1,767 | 111 | Relatively Moderate |
| Currituck County | 28,616 | $314,100 | $1,480 | 105 | Very Low |
| Dare County | 37,160 | $386,600 | $2,128 | 109 | Relatively Moderate |
| Davidson County | 169,498 | $184,300 | $1,219 | 108 | Relatively Moderate |
| Davie County | 43,030 | $219,400 | $1,525 | 107 | Very Low |
| Duplin County | 49,312 | $112,400 | $822 | 112 | Relatively Moderate |
| Durham County | 325,101 | $311,300 | $2,891 | 107 | Relatively Moderate |
| Edgecombe County | 49,067 | $106,200 | $1,244 | 107 | Relatively Low |
| Forsyth County | 383,739 | $205,700 | $1,841 | 106 | Relatively Moderate |
| Franklin County | 69,680 | $209,500 | $1,635 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Gaston County | 228,972 | $206,700 | $1,766 | 110 | Relatively Moderate |
| Gates County | 10,509 | $153,000 | $1,162 | 105 | Very Low |
| Graham County | 8,047 | $134,000 | $850 | 110 | Very Low |
| Granville County | 61,161 | $208,600 | $1,648 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Greene County | 20,407 | $108,300 | $962 | 109 | Relatively Low |
| Guilford County | 539,557 | $215,700 | $1,982 | 106 | Relatively Moderate |
| Halifax County | 48,772 | $98,700 | $1,129 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Harnett County | 134,718 | $195,900 | $1,556 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Haywood County | 62,152 | $227,500 | $1,476 | 109 | Relatively Low |
| Henderson County | 116,469 | $291,500 | $1,534 | 110 | Relatively Moderate |
| Hertford County | 21,633 | $103,600 | $1,052 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Hoke County | 52,612 | $177,500 | $1,300 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Hyde County | 4,636 | $105,300 | $717 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Iredell County | 187,839 | $261,200 | $1,759 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Jackson County | 42,388 | $240,500 | $896 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Johnston County | 219,042 | $240,100 | $1,754 | 109 | Relatively Moderate |
| Jones County | 9,263 | $115,400 | $919 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Lee County | 63,560 | $186,000 | $1,637 | 109 | Relatively Low |
| Lenoir County | 55,071 | $101,600 | $976 | 110 | Relatively Moderate |
| Lincoln County | 87,933 | $241,200 | $1,472 | 109 | Relatively Low |
| McDowell County | 44,629 | $153,300 | $811 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Macon County | 37,088 | $210,900 | $932 | 111 | Relatively Low |
| Madison County | 21,414 | $236,300 | $1,283 | 108 | Very Low |
| Martin County | 21,992 | $99,200 | $1,136 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Mecklenburg County | 1,115,403 | $334,700 | $2,663 | 110 | Relatively High |
| Mitchell County | 14,989 | $191,400 | $993 | 107 | Very Low |
| Montgomery County | 25,839 | $139,900 | $1,037 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Moore County | 100,759 | $284,000 | $1,680 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Nash County | 95,015 | $162,100 | $1,326 | 107 | Relatively Low |
| New Hanover County | 228,134 | $320,000 | $1,996 | 116 | Relatively High |
| Northampton County | 17,528 | $96,000 | $1,140 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Onslow County | 203,686 | $196,800 | $1,331 | 113 | Relatively High |
| Orange County | 145,919 | $395,600 | $3,944 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Pamlico County | 12,317 | $198,600 | $1,207 | 111 | Relatively Low |
| Pasquotank County | 40,454 | $201,500 | $1,502 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Pender County | 61,592 | $240,800 | $1,796 | 114 | Relatively Moderate |
| Perquimans County | 13,053 | $211,100 | $1,338 | 106 | Very Low |
| Person County | 39,131 | $173,200 | $1,217 | 105 | Very Low |
| Pitt County | 171,196 | $178,700 | $1,555 | 109 | Relatively Moderate |
| Polk County | 19,538 | $255,000 | $1,489 | 110 | Very Low |
| Randolph County | 144,403 | $158,300 | $1,187 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Richmond County | 43,149 | $111,900 | $1,095 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Robeson County | 117,573 | $87,700 | $814 | 113 | Relatively Moderate |
| Rockingham County | 91,209 | $142,900 | $1,193 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Rowan County | 147,067 | $187,300 | $1,331 | 108 | Relatively Moderate |
| Rutherford County | 64,680 | $158,200 | $970 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Sampson County | 59,317 | $116,600 | $983 | 112 | Relatively Moderate |
| Scotland County | 34,222 | $99,900 | $1,027 | 112 | Relatively Low |
| Stanly County | 62,723 | $190,700 | $1,329 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Stokes County | 44,696 | $168,600 | $1,107 | 105 | Very Low |
| Surry County | 71,429 | $153,700 | $1,023 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Swain County | 14,130 | $178,900 | $848 | 109 | Relatively Low |
| Transylvania County | 33,131 | $298,600 | $1,418 | 110 | Relatively Low |
| Tyrrell County | 3,389 | $140,500 | $1,303 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Union County | 240,109 | $336,600 | $2,195 | 112 | Relatively Moderate |
| Vance County | 42,492 | $133,000 | $1,107 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Wake County | 1,132,103 | $385,700 | $2,894 | 108 | Relatively High |
| Warren County | 18,803 | $121,300 | $1,074 | 105 | Relatively Low |
| Washington County | 11,051 | $97,800 | $1,152 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Watauga County | 54,540 | $283,000 | $1,220 | 106 | Relatively Low |
| Wayne County | 117,480 | $152,300 | $1,155 | 110 | Relatively Moderate |
| Wilkes County | 66,125 | $146,200 | $1,005 | 106 | Relatively Moderate |
| Wilson County | 78,667 | $153,800 | $1,413 | 108 | Relatively Low |
| Yadkin County | 37,280 | $160,500 | $1,176 | 106 | Very Low |
| Yancey County | 18,538 | $206,100 | $1,107 | 107 | Very Low |
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