Can you get a shed built on site in New Bern, NC?
Short answer: yes, if a builder covers your area. New Bern is well up US-17 from Wilmington, past Jacksonville, so ask about distance and any travel charge on the first call.
- Why build on site: the materials are carried in by hand, which suits fenced yards and older in-town lots with narrow side yards.
- Tell us your town or ZIP: New Bern, Trent Woods, River Bend, James City or elsewhere in Craven County. Who handles your permit depends on it.
- Renting? Get the owner's written OK before you order.
What permits does a shed need inside New Bern city limits?
Short answer: a City zoning permit with a site plan, plus a building permit once the shed is 12 feet or more in any dimension.
- Building permit: the City's inspections page requires one for accessory structures 12 feet or greater in any dimension2. The zoning application packet words it as any dimension over 12 feet1. If your shed is exactly 12 feet on a side, ask which applies.
- Zoning permit: a signed application and a site plan showing property lines with lot dimensions, easements, existing and proposed structures, and any flood or CAMA lines, plus a copy of the CAMA permit if one applies1.
- Setbacks for smaller sheds: at least 3 feet from side and rear property lines and 8 feet from the house; not in the front yard; not in recorded easements or rights-of-way1.
- Inspections: once the spot is marked, the City asks for a setback inspection if it is within one foot of the setback, and a final inspection once the shed is in place1.
- Near water: a CAMA permit is required for development within 75 feet of an Area of Environmental Concern2.
- Floodplain: properties identified as being in a floodplain need floodplain permits2.
- Timing: zoning permits can take up to 10 business days1.
Historic district lots may have extra steps. Ask the City's Development Services before you order.
What permits does a shed need in Craven County outside New Bern?
Short answer: check with Craven County Planning and Inspections. The County's forms cover accessory structures, and the statewide 12-foot rule decides when the building code applies.
- Zoning: the County's zoning permit form lists accessory structures as a type of new construction and is submitted with the County's General Information sheet3.
- Building permit: the County says a permit must be issued if a building or structure is erected, constructed, installed or moved4. The NC Residential Code applies to accessory buildings with any dimension over 12 feet5.
- Near Cherry Point: building inside the MCAS zoned area needs an AICUZ disclosure form4.
- Drainage: the County's permit form notes the building code's requirement for positive drainage from beneath and away from buildings6. See gravel pads for sheds.
- Other towns: Trent Woods, River Bend, Havelock and other towns may run their own zoning. Ask the town first.
Statewide background: do I need a permit for a pre-built shed in NC?
How much does a shed cost in New Bern, NC?
Short answer: we only have Wilmington-area published prices: about $4,200 (8x10) to $6,500 (12x12) as base prices. Travel to New Bern may add to that.
| Size | Published base price range |
|---|---|
| 8x10 | $4,223 to $4,240 |
| 8x12 | $4,738 to $4,790 |
| 10x10 | $5,000 to $5,240 |
| 10x12 | $5,300 to $5,390 |
| 12x12 | $6,000 to $6,490 |
Base prices from the published 2026 price lists of two Wilmington-area builders who build sheds on site, checked November 1, 2026. Prices change; your quote sets the real number.
Bigger sizes and cost per square foot · rent to own and financing.
What do New Bern homeowners ask about sheds?
Do I need a permit for a shed in New Bern, NC?
Usually yes. Inside city limits, a shed small enough to skip a building permit still needs a City zoning permit with a site plan1. A building permit is required for accessory structures 12 feet or greater in any dimension, per the City's inspections page2.
How far from the property line does a shed go in New Bern?
For residential accessory structures that don't need a building permit, the City sets at least 3 feet from side and rear property lines and 8 feet from the house, and no sheds in the front yard or in recorded easements or rights-of-way1.
How long does a New Bern zoning permit take?
The City says processing can take up to 10 business days, depending on volume and complexity1.
What if I live outside New Bern city limits?
Then Craven County handles it. The County's zoning permit form lists accessory structures, and its building permit application covers any structure that is built, installed or moved3,4.
Can I use a camper or trailer as a shed in New Bern?
No. The City says RVs, campers, trailers, boats and buses can't be used as accessory structures1.
What else should you read before you call?
Ready to price a shed for your yard?
Call (910) 763-7991 or send the short form. A local shed builder calls you back to talk through size, site and price for your New Bern shed.
Where does this information come from?
- City of New Bern Development Services, Zoning Permit Application and standards for residential accessory structures (PDF, revised May 2025). Accessed November 3, 2026.
- City of New Bern Development Services, Inspections: permits required. Accessed November 3, 2026.
- Craven County Planning and Inspections, Zoning Permit application (PDF). Accessed November 3, 2026.
- Craven County, Permit Applications (Planning and Inspections). Accessed November 3, 2026.
- North Carolina Residential Code, 2018 edition, Sections R101.2.1 and R101.2.2 (accessory buildings and structures), ICC free view. Accessed November 3, 2026.
- Craven County Inspections Department, Permit Application (PDF, revised June 2, 2025). Accessed November 3, 2026.