Construction Company in Wilmington, NC

Same buyer, different names: construction company, general contractor, remodeler

In plain words, people searching for a construction company, a general contractor, a remodeling contractor, a design-build firm or a residential builder usually want the same thing: one company that runs a building job from plan to final inspection. The names overlap, so the name alone does not tell you whether a firm takes a bathroom or a deck. Read what each company says it builds.

When you search for construction companies near me, you will see all of these names. Pick by job list, not by name. A residential construction company that mostly builds new subdivision homes may not want a hall bathroom. The residential construction services you need are the ones on a job list that looks like your project.

What a general contractor does and when a homeowner needs one

A remodel, addition or repair that touches several trades, a permit and inspections raises one question: who sequences the plumber, electrician, framer and tile setter, and who books each inspection? Either you do or the company you hire does. That is the case for hiring a general contractor. Ask each company to write down which of those tasks it takes on.

General contractor or each trade on your own

Hiring trades one by one avoids a general contractor's fee, but you become the general contractor. You write every scope, check every trade's paperwork and decide whose work failed when the tile cracks over the plumber's patch.

General contractor or handyman

A handyman fits small fixes that need no permit. If your job needs a permit or mixes several trades, you want a company that pulls permits and manages inspections.

General contractor or design-build firm

With a general contractor and a separate designer, you often get drawings first that several companies can bid on, so bids compare cleanly. With a design-build contractor, the design and construction come from one company. Questions that settle the choice:

• Does the company design in house, or build from your designer's plans?
• Is the design fee its own line on the contract, and is it credited if you sign?
• If the layout is not settled, who finalizes it before the price is fixed?
• If you already hold detailed plans, will the company bid on them as drawn?

The same comparison applies to design-build remodeling. Kitchen remodeling and bathroom remodeling each have a page of their own.

Jobs a general contractor manages

Ask what each quote covers before you compare prices.

Basement finishing, garage conversion and ADU work are add-on jobs. A general contractor for remodeling and new construction may do both, so say in your call whether you need a remodel or a new house.

How hiring a general contractor works, step by step

1. First call and site visit. Ask for a visit to the house. Give the company your budget as a number; a company that hears none cannot tell you what is realistic.
2. Scope and design. Ask for the scope in writing: what is included, who buys materials and who clears debris.
3. Written estimate and contract. A written estimate with line items is the base for comparing bids. Ask whether a free construction estimate is offered or whether planning is a paid step.
4. Permits. Ask who applies through the county's COAST portal and who pays the fees. Ask whether permit help is in the price.
5. Schedule and orders. Ask which items are made to order and how long they take.
6. Build and inspections. Ask for the order of work and the points where work waits for an inspector.
7. Final walkthrough and punch list. Ask for a written list of unfinished items and agree that the last payment waits until it is done.

Subcontractors, project manager and how updates are given

Construction management on a home job comes down to who answers your calls. Ask who your project manager is, which work is done by the company's own employees and which by subcontractors, and how updates are given: a weekly message, a shared schedule or a call. Put the answer in the contract.

What a general contractor costs: fee or markup, fixed price vs cost-plus, national project ranges by job type

How much does a general contractor charge?

Bob Vila's contractor guide (updated September 12, 2022) reports that a general contractor's fee or markup is commonly 10 to 20 percent of total construction cost. Ask what the percentage is applied to. On a $40,000 project, 10 to 20 percent is $4,000 to $8,000. That is arithmetic on the commonly quoted range, not a Wilmington quote. The cost to hire a general contractor, and what hiring a general contractor costs in your case, depend on how the company charges, so ask for the method in writing.

Fixed price or cost-plus

General contractor fees show up in two ways. In a fixed-price contract the fee sits inside one total, and you pay that total for the defined scope. In a cost-plus contract you pay the real cost of labor and materials plus a fee or percentage. If the contract is cost-plus, ask for a not-to-exceed number and for receipts. Match the scope before you compare fixed-price bids.

Turnkey quotes, selections and allowances

A selection is an item you have chosen, such as a specific faucet. An allowance is a placeholder amount for an item you have not chosen yet. If your bid has many allowances, ask what happens when your choice costs more.

Kitchen and bathroom remodeling cost

How much does home remodeling cost? It depends on the room. How much it costs to remodel a home is closer to a sum of rooms than a single number. National project ranges by job type are Bob Vila's figures, not adjusted for Wilmington and not quotes. The Wilmington lines are one local company's own published tiers.

CRK Builders' tiers are a company's own price list and a market signal, not a survey. Its upper tiers ($60,000 and up) sit above the national guide, so expect local bids that differ from the national figures. The home additions page covers what to plan for on that job.

For context only, the Census Bureau's ACS 2024 puts Wilmington's median home value at $428,900. That is a house value, not a remodel price.

What moves the price of a remodel

• Scope and size. How many rooms, how many square feet, how many trades.
• Finishes. CRK Builders' own list shows the same kitchen layout at three cabinet grades, a $12,000 spread between stock and custom.
• Structural change. The county lists structural work as work that needs a permit.
• Permits and fees. The county charges by the square foot with a $400 minimum on major remodels.
• Moving plumbing or walls. Ask whether the plan moves plumbing, gas or walls, and whether the quote prices that as its own line.
• Age of the home. Many Wilmington homes are older; ask what the quote allows for in an older house.
• Material lead times. Ask which items are special order and how many weeks the supplier needs.
• Ask which of these the quote includes: moved plumbing or gas, special-order items, and repairs found after demolition.
• Flood zone and historic status. Both can add steps in Wilmington: a flood-map check and a city Certificate of Appropriateness.

Deposit and payment schedule

Normal deposit range. The North Carolina Department of Justice says it is reasonable for a contractor to ask for a deposit, but not to pay for most or all of the work before it is completed. Ask each company what its deposit is and what it buys (NC DOJ, Safe to Rebuild flyer, April 2025 draft).

Milestone payments. NC DOJ advises a written contract that details all the work, including price and payment schedule. Ask for milestone payments tied to finished work, and ask what each payment buys and what must be done before it falls due.

Red flag deposits. NC DOJ warns about contractors who keep asking for more money to buy materials and advises against paying upfront (NC DOJ, 2024 and 2025). Ask any company that asks for more money mid-job to say what it covers.

Licensing and registration: state, city and county licences, trade licences, how to verify

North Carolina is one state that licenses general contractors for larger projects. New Hanover County's permit FAQ says projects valued at $40,000 or more generally require a licensed General Contractor. Labor and materials both count toward the value, and splitting purchases does not avoid the rule (county permit FAQ). The North Carolina Department of Justice says the same: a contractor must be licensed by the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors for projects of $40,000 or more (NC DOJ consumer alert, March 8, 2024). The statute, G.S. 87-1, uses the same $40,000 figure (UNC School of Government).

How to look up a contractor's license

The Licensing Board can confirm whether a specific contractor is licensed, and NC DOJ points homeowners to the board's public search at portal.nclbgc.org/Public/Search. Ask the company for its license number and the exact name on the license, then search it there before you sign. Ask which license covers your project's value. That is how to verify the general contractor.

Ask whether the state licenses general contractors for a job your size, which city and county licences apply, which trade licences for electrical, plumbing and HVAC work apply, and how to verify each. The county sells separate electrical, mechanical and plumbing permits at $60 each (New Hanover County, Permit Cost). Ask each company which of its trades hold their own license, and how you can check it.

The owner-builder exemption

The county's owner-builder exemption is generally meant for owners who will live in the home as their primary residence for at least 12 consecutive months. It may not apply to homes held in an LLC, investment property or resale and rental homes. If you are in doubt, ask the county before you plan to act as your own contractor.

Insurance and what to ask for

• Ask for a certificate of insurance, and ask the insurer to send it, not the company.
• Ask whether the company carries workers' compensation, and ask for subcontractor coverage: what its subcontractors carry.
• Ask what happens if a worker is hurt on your property.

Permits in Wilmington: the county issues them, the city checks zoning

Do general contractors handle permits? Ask the company in writing whether it applies for the permit, and how long its last few permits took. In Wilmington the permit path has two offices.

• The county issues building permits. Permits for work inside Wilmington city limits come from the New Hanover County Department of Permits & Inspections. Applicants use the county's COAST online portal or apply in person at the county government center.
• The city checks zoning and historic review. The City of Wilmington says a building permit is required for new buildings, change of use, demolition and alterations, expansions and accessory structures. The proposed structure must meet the city's Land Development Code before the permit is applied for, and the city handles zoning and historic preservation review.
• Plan reviewers are available Monday to Friday, 8 am to 5 pm (county FAQ).

Ask the county for the plan-review time and the inspection list for your job.

When a permit is needed, who pulls it and how long it takes

A permit is needed for structural work, new windows or doors and HVAC replacement; the county's "Is It Really Cosmetic?" table lists paint, flooring, interior trim and cabinets as needing none (county permit FAQ). Who pulls it: ask the company in writing whether it applies through COAST. How long it takes depends on the county's plan review, so ask the county for the time on your job.

What the county charges

Sources: the county's Permit Cost page and Residential Fee Schedule (both undated). As arithmetic only, a 150 square foot work area at $0.221 would come to about $33, so the $400 minimum would apply for a major job. Your fee depends on how the county measures it.

Penalties for skipping the permit

The county lists a $100 penalty for starting work without a permit, $100 for working under an expired permit, $100 for no final inspection and $50 for excessive inspections after two failed ones. Its fee schedule adds a penalty of $250 for a first occurrence, or $500 for a second, for starting and substantially completing work without a permit. Moving in before a certificate of occupancy costs $100 on day one, $300 on day two and $500 for each later day. Refunds are cut by a 25 percent service fee or $60, whichever is greater, and are not given once work has started or the permit has expired.

Why is unpermitted work a problem when selling? Ask the county or a North Carolina attorney what a seller must disclose about unpermitted work. Keep the final inspection record with your house papers so you can show the work was inspected.

How inspections work

County inspections run 8:00 am to 5:00 pm on business days. A request entered in the COAST portal before 3:30 pm is scheduled for the next business day. Each inspection takes 5 minutes to 2 hours, and no arrival time is guaranteed. The state-set order of inspections is enforced. Inspectors do not carry ladders, so the company must supply one when needed. Scheduling problems go to the county's COAST team by email with the permit number in the subject line.

Which building code applies

North Carolina delayed the 2024 State Building Code (S.L. 2025-2). The effective date is now 12 months after the State Fire Marshal certifies two conditions, and until then the 2018 North Carolina State Building Code remains in effect (State Fire Marshal, April 7, 2025). Ask the company which edition applies on the day your permit is issued.

Coastal and older homes: what changes a Wilmington job

Flood zones and the beach towns' own rules

Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach each run their own floodplain ordinance, and the county's Building Safety Department handles building-related floodplain rules only in unincorporated areas. For new construction and substantial improvements in the FEMA-mapped 100-year floodplain, the county says standards are met mainly by elevating the lowest floor, and a structure in a floodway generally needs a "No-Rise" engineering study. Maps are on the county's online flood map and the state's Flood Risk Information System. Ask the company to check your parcel on the maps before it prices an addition or a gut remodel.

Historic districts and the Certificate of Appropriateness

Alterations in Wilmington's local historic or overlay districts need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city's Historic Preservation team, separate from the county building permit. The local districts are the Theater, Residential and Mixed-Use historic districts, plus the Downtown Commercial Historic District Overlay and the Carolina Heights and Winoca Terrace overlay. National Register districts named by the city include Carolina Place, Carolina Heights, Masonboro Sound, Sunset Park, Westbrook-Ardmore and Brookwood.

Hurricane lessons

Hurricane Florence hit the Wilmington area in September 2018 (NWS Wilmington). When you hire, ask about storm-repair experience, how the company schedules work in hurricane season and how it protects an open roof or wall if a storm warning comes mid-job. Keep photos and records before and after any storm repair.

The age of Wilmington's housing

The Census Bureau's ACS 2024 counts 67,186 housing units in Wilmington. Of those, 6,781 were built in 1939 or earlier and 26,074 (about 38.8 percent) before 1980. The median year built is 1990. About 47.9 percent of occupied units are owner-occupied and 52.1 percent are rented. Older homes bring the usual surprises behind walls. For homes built before 1978, the EPA lead-safe rule covers paid work that disturbs painted surfaces; see the EPA section.

Reading a Wilmington bid line by line

These are lines worth asking about in a Wilmington bid. A bid that leaves one out is not necessarily wrong, but it leaves you to ask.

• Permit line. Who applies in COAST, the county fee and whether trade permits are included. For major remodel work the county fee already includes all trade permits, so a separate charge for them deserves a question.
• Inspection line. Who requests inspections and who is on site for them.
• Zoning and flood line. Whether the company has checked your lot against the city's Land Development Code and the flood maps. If an addition bid says nothing about either, ask.
• Historic line. If your street is in a local district, a line for the Certificate of Appropriateness and the time it adds.
• License line. For a larger job, the license number and the license that covers it, checked in the board's public search.
• Contingency line. A set-aside for hidden problems, or a clear rule for how surprises are priced.
• Allowance lines. Which items are placeholders, what each allowance is, and who pays the difference.
• Exclusions. What is not in the price: appliances, painting, landscaping repair, permit fees, design fees.

Bids that leave out different lines are not comparable, so line them up before you compare the totals.

Contract, change orders and lien waivers

What a written estimate and contract should hold

• The scope, listing rooms and trades, and what is not included.
• Which items carry an allowance and what happens if you pick above it.
• The price and the payment schedule, tied to finished work (NC DOJ advises a written contract that details all the work, price and payment schedule).
• A start date and an expected finish, and what happens if either slips.
• Who applies for permits through COAST, who pays the fees and who schedules inspections.
• Who handles cleanup and debris removal.

Change orders

A change order is a written change to the scope, price or schedule after work has started. Ask that each one be written down and signed by both sides before the work happens, showing the price and the days added. If a company says the price will be sorted out later, treat that as a warning.

Lien waivers

Ask the company whether it gives a lien waiver with each payment and what it says. Ask a North Carolina attorney if you are unsure.

Warranties: what a workmanship warranty covers and what to get in writing

Ask what the workmanship warranty covers, how long it runs, what voids it and how to make a claim. Then get it in writing: the contract is where the terms must be written down.

How long does a remodel take, and what slows it?

One Wilmington kitchen and bath company states about 6 to 8 weeks for a kitchen and 4 to 8 weeks for a bathroom (company website). Those are one company's figures, not a promise; ask what they include. What stretches a schedule:

• Permits. Ask when the company expects to apply and how long its last few took.
• Orders. Ask which items are made to order and how long they take.
• Inspections. Work in sequence waits for each pass.
• Weather. In hurricane season, ask what the schedule does when a storm stops outdoor work.

Ask for a written schedule with a start date, milestones and an expected finish, and what happens to the date when a change order is signed.

Living at home during the work: dust, debris and the rest of the house

Ask about dust barriers, floor protection, where debris goes and which hours the workers are on site, and put the answers in the contract. Ask how the rooms outside the work area will be protected. For a kitchen, ask how long you will be without it, and plan a temporary kitchen. For a bathroom, ask whether you have a second one to use.

Hidden problems behind walls and floors: rot, old wiring, structural surprises, change orders and contingency

Ask what the quote does about rot, old wiring and structural surprises found after demolition. One Wilmington kitchen and bath company builds a 10 percent contingency into its online estimator (company website). A contingency is a set-aside for surprises. Ask whether the quote holds one, how the company will show what it found, with photos, before it asks for more money, and how a change order records each finding, its price and the days added.

Before any digging, such as for a footing or a drain, the company should contact 811 at least three full working days ahead. NC811 marks buried lines for free and the marks last 28 calendar days. Private lines, such as one to a detached garage, are not marked through 811, so ask the company how it will find them.

Homes built before 1978 and the EPA lead rule

EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting program (page updated June 17, 2026) says paid work that disturbs painted surfaces in homes built before 1978 must be done by EPA-certified firms that use lead-safe work practices. Given the housing ages above, some Wilmington homes may be covered by the rule. Ask the company for its lead-safe certification and how it will contain dust.

Basement finishing, garage conversion and ADU work as add-on jobs

Does a general contractor take basement finishing, garage conversion or ADU jobs? Ask each company whether it takes these add-on jobs. Ask what its quote covers and which permits and zoning checks it expects. The city checks zoning against its Land Development Code before the county issues a permit, and ask the city for its setback and ADU rules. In a flood zone, ask how elevation rules affect a ground-level garage conversion. Ask the county which fee line applies to a garage conversion. These jobs have no separate page at launch, so call and describe yours.

How to compare bids and what to ask before hiring

1. Give each company the same scope, drawings and list of selections.
2. Ask for a written estimate with line items, allowances and exclusions.
3. Compare totals only after you match scope. When one number is much lower, ask what that company left out.
4. Ask for the license number and look it up in the Licensing Board's public search.
5. Ask for references from jobs like yours and call them.

Red flags

• Payment requests that run ahead of finished work.
• No written contract, or a contract with a vague scope.
• A company that says no permit is needed for structural, window, door or HVAC replacement work, which the county lists as permit work.
• No insurance certificate, or a company that dodges the question.
• A large project with a company that cannot give a license number you can find in the Licensing Board's search.

What to ask a general contractor before hiring

• What is your license number, and which insurance do you hold?
• Who runs my job day to day, and how will I get updates?
• Who applies through COAST, and what will the county fees be?
• Is the price fixed or cost-plus, and what is the payment schedule?
• How are change orders priced and approved?
• What does the warranty cover, for how long, in writing?
• For my house's age, how will you handle lead-safe work?
• Is the estimate free, or do you charge for design, and is it credited if I sign?

New home construction vs remodeling: where a general contractor stops and a home builder starts

A general contractor for remodeling and new construction may do both. Companies differ, so ask each one where its general contractor work stops and where a home builder starts. Tell the person who answers the call whether you want a remodel or a new house, so the request goes to a company that takes that kind of job. Whole-house new construction has its own cost, permit and flood questions; ask each company about them.

Areas served

• Wilmington
• Leland
• Oak Island
• Carolina Beach
• St. James
• Boiling Spring Lakes
• Wrightsville Beach
• Belville
• Kure Beach

Wilmington General Contractor Pros connects homeowners with independent local companies for jobs in Wilmington and nearby towns, including Leland, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach, Wrightsville Beach, Oak Island, St. James, Belville and Boiling Spring Lakes. Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach run their own floodplain ordinances, so ask the company which office covers your address.

Questions about hiring a construction company in Wilmington

Does Wilmington require a licensed general contractor?

For larger projects, yes. The county and NC DOJ both name the $40,000 line, and the North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors has a public search where you can check the license number.

Who pulls the permit, the city or the county?

The county's Department of Permits & Inspections issues building permits inside city limits. The city handles zoning and historic review. Applications go through the county's COAST portal.

How much does a general contractor charge?

Commonly quoted, 10 to 20 percent of construction cost (Bob Vila, 2022). Ask whether the fee sits inside a fixed price or is added to costs, and get the method in writing.

What does a Wilmington building permit cost?

The county charges $60 for a minor job with one inspection, and $0.221 per square foot with a $400 minimum for a major remodel. Additions are $0.441 per square foot with a $400 minimum.

What work needs no permit?

The county lists paint, flooring, interior trim and cabinets as needing no permit. Structural work, new windows or doors and HVAC replacement need one.

How long does a remodel take?

One Wilmington company states 6 to 8 weeks for a kitchen and 4 to 8 for a bathroom. Design and permits come before that; ask the county for its plan-review time.

How big a deposit is normal?

NC DOJ says a deposit is reasonable, but not paying for most or all of the work before it is done. Ask the company what the deposit covers and tie later payments to finished work.

Is a free construction estimate normal?

Whether a company's own estimate is free varies. Ask before booking a visit.

What is the difference between a general contractor and a design-build firm?

A design-build firm does design and construction under one contract. With a general contractor, ask whether you get drawings first that several companies could bid on.

Does a historic-district house need extra approval?

In a local historic or overlay district, alterations need a Certificate of Appropriateness from the city, separate from the county permit.

Do beach-town homes follow different flood rules?

Wilmington, Carolina Beach, Kure Beach and Wrightsville Beach each run their own floodplain ordinance, so ask which town's rules govern your parcel.

What happens if work starts without a permit?

The county lists a $100 penalty, with $250 or $500 more under its fee schedule when work is substantially completed without one.

Get matched with a local company

Call and tell us the room or project, the town you are in and your rough budget. We call you back within one business day and connect you with a local construction company that takes homeowner jobs. Ask that company for a written estimate with line items. Questions first? Use the contact page.

Call (804) 889-2677.

Related pages: kitchen remodeling in Wilmington, bathroom remodeling in Wilmington and home additions in Wilmington.

Sources

1. Bob Vila, hiring a contractor (updated 2022-09-12; retrieved 2026-10-30)
2. Bob Vila, kitchen remodel cost (2025-05-16)
3. Bob Vila, bathroom remodel cost (2024-06-26)
4. CRK Builders, kitchen remodeling pricing (company list, as listed 2026-10-30)
5. Custom Kitchen & Bath Co., company figures (2026-10-30)
6. City of Wilmington, Building Permits (2026-10-30)
7. City of Wilmington, Historic Districts (2026-10-30)
8. New Hanover County, Permit Cost, Residential Fee Schedule, Permit FAQ and Inspections (2026-10-30)
9. NC Department of Justice, consumer alert for homeowners (2024-03-08) and Safe to Rebuild flyer (2025-04-15 draft, points to the Licensing Board's public search); UNC School of Government, G.S. 87-1 figure (2026-10-30)
10. New Hanover County, Floodplain Management (2026-10-30)
11. NC Office of State Fire Marshal, 2024 code delay (2025-04-07)
12. NWS Wilmington, Hurricane Florence (2026-10-30)
13. Census Reporter, ACS 2024 housing tables, Wilmington and population and home value (2026-10-30)
14. NC811, safe digging process (2026-10-30)
15. EPA, Renovation, Repair and Painting program (updated 2026-06-17)