CAMA Permits

Outer Banks CAMA Permits

Typically, only properties that adjoin a body of water fall into CAMA jurisdiction; oceanfront, soundfront, canalfront, etc.  The governing entities will discuss your project with you when you acquire your building permit. They will discuss the different permits and stages of inspection required for completion and approval. Outer Banks CAMA permits are a bit more complex than other permitted projects.

To give you a heads up, a project that is on land but near water, falls under what’s called a minor permit and is handled by the County or Town entities below.  However projects that take place in the water are considered a major permit and are referred to the State of North Carolina. The NC Division of Coastal Management website: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/.  We recommend you seek advise locally to start.

Some projects require inspections as you make progress towards completion. The governing entities will discuss your project with you when you acquire your building permit about the various stages of inspection required for final approval. 

Make sure you are doing your homework in the right jurisdiction before you begin. There are 6 incorporated towns on the Outer Banks which have jurisdiction over minor CAMA permits. Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk, Kill Devil Hills, Nags Head and Manteo are the incorporated towns.  All other locations fall either in Dare or Currituck County.  Two areas that may seem to be within a town but are actually within the County are Martins Point and Colington Island.

Contact Information for Outer Banks CAMA Permits

Links & maps are provided to the area governing authorities. We list the two counties first, followed by the incorporated towns on the Outer Banks. Entities are listed North to South.

Currituck County

Web Site: www.co.currituck.nc.us/pdf/form-planning/cama

Corolla Satellite Office
1123 Ocean Tr. • Corolla
Phone: (252) 232-6031

Main Currituck County Offices
153 Courthouse Rd. • Suite 110 • Currituck
Phone: (252) 232-6026

Dare County

Web Site: www.darenc.com/departments/planning/cama

Manteo
954 Marshall C Collins Dr. • Manteo
(Serving Unincorporated Areas North of Oregon Inlet)
Phone: (252) 475-5873

Frisco
50347 NC Hwy. 12 • Frisco
(Serving Hatteras Island)
Phone: (252) 475-5878
Provided email addresses on the county website are specific to individuals, which are subject to change. We recommend that you locate the proper email address on the website: www.darenc.com/departments/planning/

Incorporated Towns

Towns Are Listed North To South.

Town of Duck
Website: https://deq.nc.gov/about/divisions/coastal-management/
1200 Duck Rd. • Duck
Phone: (252) 255-1234
If you have a particular question please e-mail the Town of Duck at info@townofduck.com and reference “Permit Forms” in the subject.

Town of Southern Shores
Website: http://southernshores-nc.gov/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/CAMA
5375 N. Virginia Dare Tr. • Southern Shores
Phone: (252) 261-2394
If you have a particular question please e-mail the Town of Southern Shores at info@southernshores-nc.gov

Town of Kitty Hawk
Website: https://www.kittyhawknc.gov/
101 Veterans Memorial Dr. • Kitty Hawk
Phone: (252) 261-3552
If you have a particular question please e-mail the Town of Kitty Hawk at info@kittyhawktown.net

Town of Kill Devil Hills
Website: www.kdhnc.com/138/Commercial-Residential
102 Town Hall Dr. • Kill Devil Hills
Phone: (252) 449-5338
Provided email addresses on the town website are specific to individuals, which are subject to change. We recommend that you locate the proper email address on the website: http://www.kdhnc.com/Directory.aspx?did=2

Town of Nags Head
Website: www.nagsheadnc.gov/index.asp
5401 S. Croatan Hwy. • MP 13 • Nags Head
Phone: (252) 441-7106
Provided email addresses on the town website are specific to individuals, which are subject to change. We recommend that you locate the proper email address on the website: http://216.92.112.133/nhdirectory/directory.html

Town of Manteo
Website: www.townofmanteo.com/index.asp?
407 Budleigh St. • Manteo
Phone: (252) 473-2133
Provided email addresses on the town website are specific to individuals, which are subject to change. We recommend that you locate the proper email address on the website: http://www.townofmanteo.com/index.asp?