Moving to Brunswick County, NC: Your New Resident Checklist

Updated October 2026 by Danielle King, REALTOR®, Realty ONE Group Dockside

Quick answer: When you move to Brunswick County, set up electric, water, trash, and internet before move-in. Your exact address decides who your providers are, not your mailing city. Then switch your car insurance to a North Carolina policy, get your NC driver's license within 60 days, register your vehicle, and sign up for ReadyBrunswick emergency alerts. This page has every phone number and step in one place.

What Do You Need to Do First When You Move to Brunswick County?

When What to do
2 to 3 weeks before closing Lock in homeowners insurance. Review wind/hail and flood coverage separately.
1 to 2 weeks before Call your electric provider and schedule the transfer into your name.
1 to 2 weeks before Order internet installation.
About 1 week before Confirm trash service and your pickup day.
Before or at closing Find out who provides your water and sewer and what paperwork they need.
Closing day Finish the water/sewer transfer. Many providers need your settlement statement.
Right after you move Change your address with USPS, banks, cards, payroll, and subscriptions. Switch your car insurance to an NC policy.
Right away Sign up for ReadyBrunswick emergency alerts.
First few weeks Gather your NC proof-of-residency papers (utility bills work).
Within 60 days Get your NC driver's license.
After your NC license Title and register your vehicles and get NC plates.
Once eligible Register to vote or update your voter record.

Who Provides Electricity in Brunswick County?

Brunswick County has two electric providers. Your address decides which one you get. Call about 1 to 2 weeks before you move, give them your closing date, and ask for the account to transfer into your name with no gap in service.

Brunswick Electric Membership Corporation (BEMC)
Customer service: 800-842-5871
Supply office: 910-754-4391
Southport/Oak Island office: 910-457-9808
Outages: 800-682-5309

Duke Energy Progress
Customer service: 800-452-2777
Outages: 800-419-6356, or text OUT to 57801 from the phone on your account

Who Provides Water and Sewer in Brunswick County?

Short answer: It depends on your exact address. A Shallotte, Leland, or Ocean Isle Beach mailing address does not tell you who your water provider is. Ask me or check your closing paperwork before you assume.

Brunswick County Public Utilities serves much of the county, including Boiling Spring Lakes, Bolivia, Calabash, Carolina Shores, Caswell Beach, Navassa, Northwest, Sandy Creek, Shallotte, Southport, St. James, Sunset Beach, Varnamtown, and many unincorporated areas.
Utility billing: 910-253-2655, option 2
Public Utilities: 910-253-2657, option 1
After-hours emergencies: 910-755-7921, 910-371-3490, or 910-454-0512

For a home you buy, the County generally asks for an application, a $50 deposit, a copy of your settlement statement showing the ownership change, your driver's license, and a signed service agreement.

Leland and northern Brunswick County: H2GO (Brunswick Regional Water & Sewer)
Phone: 910-371-9949

Oak Island: Town of Oak Island
Utility billing: 910-278-5011
Utility maintenance: 910-201-8007
New owners need the closing disclosure and a driver's license. The Town will not take your application before closing.

Ocean Isle Beach: Town of Ocean Isle Beach (the island and some nearby areas)
Utility billing: 910-579-2166
After-hours water emergency: 910-547-3351
Other Ocean Isle area homes are served by Brunswick County.

How Does Trash Pickup Work in Brunswick County?

Most homes in unincorporated Brunswick County get weekly curbside pickup with a 96-gallon cart. Call the hauler to confirm your pickup day, report a missed pickup, or replace a damaged cart.

GFL Environmental (formerly Waste Industries): 910-253-4177
Brunswick County Solid Waste & Recycling: 910-253-2520

The County also runs convenience centers for household trash and recycling, including sites in Leland, Southport, Supply, and Sunset Beach. If you live inside a town or an HOA, check whether trash is handled differently before you open an account.

Who Provides Internet in Brunswick County?

Service changes street by street, so check the exact address, not just the ZIP code.

FOCUS Broadband (formerly ATMC), with fiber across much of the county
Customer care: 910-754-4311 or 888-367-2862
Technical/repair: 910-754-4317
24/7 support: 833-663-1241
Offices in Shallotte, Leland, Sunset Beach, and Southport

Spectrum
New service: 855-860-9068
Customer support: 833-949-0036

What Insurance Do You Need for a Home in Coastal North Carolina?

Short answer: Plan for three pieces: homeowners, wind/hail, and flood. A standard homeowners policy does not cover flooding, and many coastal policies carry a separate hurricane or wind deductible. Get quotes early, because insurance can change your monthly payment more than the price of the home does.

  • Flood insurance. A new National Flood Insurance Program policy usually has a 30-day waiting period unless it is bought as part of your loan closing. Do not wait until a storm is in the forecast.
  • Flood zone. Look up the FEMA flood zone for your exact lot. Homes on the same street can be in different zones.
  • Wind deductible. Ask what your hurricane or named-storm deductible is in dollars, not just as a percentage.
  • Auto insurance. North Carolina requires liability coverage from a company licensed in NC. You need proof of NC insurance before you go to the DMV.

Not sure who to call? I send my clients to a local agent I trust:

Keith Gore, Brightlight Insurance
Serving North Carolina and South Carolina. Home, flood, wind, auto, and the rest of your insurance needs.
Phone: 910-207-7662
Email: keithgoreins@gmail.com

When you call about your car, try this: "I'm becoming a North Carolina resident and need my auto policy changed to a North Carolina policy starting on my move date." Do not cancel your old policy until the new one is in place.

How Long Do You Have to Get an NC Driver's License?

Short answer: 60 days after you become a North Carolina resident. Get your license first. You need it before you can title and register your car in NC.

Bring these to the NC DMV:

  • Your valid out-of-state driver's license
  • Proof of your Social Security number
  • One proof of your NC physical address
  • Two proofs of NC residency if you want a REAL ID
  • Proof of NC auto liability insurance
  • Proof of legal presence, if it applies to you
  • Name change papers if your name does not match across documents

A utility bill, cable bill, lease, mortgage statement, property tax bill, or bank statement can count as proof of NC residency. That is one more reason to get your utilities in your name fast.

NC DMV general information: 919-715-7000. Book a DMV appointment online ahead of time. Walk-in waits can be long.

How Do You Register Your Car in North Carolina?

After you have your NC license, go to an NC License Plate Agency to title and register your vehicle. You may need to register sooner if you start working in NC, since many states only allow about 30 days.

Bring:

  • Your vehicle title, or lien holder information if you have a loan
  • Your NC driver's license or temporary driving certificate
  • Proof of NC auto insurance
  • A title application
  • Odometer paperwork, if it applies

What surprises new residents: North Carolina collects your yearly vehicle property tax together with your registration renewal. You pay both at the same time.

You do not need an NC inspection for your first registration. Your vehicle does need to pass inspection before you renew. Brunswick County is not an emissions testing county, so it is a safety inspection. Check the NC DMV site for current rules, since inspection laws have been changing.

How Do Property Taxes Work in Brunswick County?

Your yearly tax bill is the Brunswick County rate, plus a town rate if your home is inside a town limit. Bills are due September 1 and can be paid without interest through early January.

Brunswick County Tax Office
Phone: 910-253-2829 or 800-527-9001
30 Government Center Drive NE, Bolivia, NC 28422
Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm

If you escrow taxes with your mortgage, your lender pays the bill. Ask the Tax Office about relief programs if you think you may qualify.

What Taxes Should You Know About in North Carolina?

  • State income tax: a flat 3.99% for 2026, set to step down to 3.49% in 2027.
  • Social Security: North Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits.
  • Sales tax: 6.75% in Brunswick County. Groceries skip the state portion and are taxed at 2%.
  • Vehicle tax: billed with your registration each year.

I'm not a tax advisor. Talk with a CPA about your own situation.

How Do You Register to Vote in Brunswick County?

Once you have your NC driver's license or ID, you can register or update your voter record through the DMV. You can also register with the county.

Brunswick County Board of Elections
Phone: 910-253-2620
75 Stamp Act Drive NE, Building H, Bolivia, NC 28422

  • You must live in the county for 30 days before the election.
  • The regular registration deadline is 25 days before Election Day.
  • Same-day registration is offered during early voting for eligible residents.
  • North Carolina asks voters to show photo ID.

How Do You Get Emergency and Hurricane Alerts in Brunswick County?

Short answer: Sign up for ReadyBrunswick. The County sends phone, text, and email alerts for hurricanes, severe weather, evacuations, and other emergencies. Do it the week you move in.

Hurricane season runs June 1 through November 30. Before your first season:

  • Look up your evacuation zone with North Carolina's Know Your Zone tool.
  • Save your electric provider's outage number in your phone.
  • Take photos of your home and belongings for insurance.
  • Know where your nearest County convenience center is for storm debris.

Save these numbers:
Emergency: 911
Brunswick County Sheriff's Office non-emergency: 910-253-2777
Brunswick County Emergency Management: 910-253-5383

Where Are the Hospitals Near Brunswick County Homes?

  • Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center in Bolivia
  • Dosher Memorial Hospital in Southport
  • Novant Health New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington, the largest hospital in the region
  • McLeod Health Seacoast in Little River, SC, close to Calabash, Sunset Beach, and Ocean Isle Beach

What Else Do New Brunswick County Residents Forget?

  • Schools. Brunswick County Schools assigns schools by address. Confirm the assignment with the district for the exact home.
  • Boats. Register your boat with the NC Wildlife Resources Commission.
  • Fishing. Saltwater fishing needs a Coastal Recreational Fishing License.
  • Golf carts. Each beach town sets its own street rules. Check before you drive one.
  • Beach parking. Many beach towns sell resident or annual parking permits.
  • Pets. North Carolina requires rabies shots for dogs and cats.
  • HOA. Get the rules, gate access, and amenity cards set up in your name.
  • Mail. Your mailing city may not match your town or your utility provider. Use your full address on every form.

Frequently Asked Questions About Moving to Brunswick County, NC

How do I know who my water provider is in Brunswick County?

Check your exact address, not your mailing city. Brunswick County Public Utilities serves most of the county, but H2GO serves much of Leland, and Oak Island and Ocean Isle Beach run their own systems. Your agent or closing attorney can confirm it.

Is my electric company BEMC or Duke Energy?

It depends on the address. Both serve Brunswick County. Call either one with your address and they will tell you.

How long do I have to switch my driver's license to North Carolina?

60 days after you become a resident. Get the license before you title and register your car.

Do I need flood insurance in Brunswick County?

Your lender will require it in a high-risk flood zone. Outside those zones it is your choice, but standard homeowners insurance does not cover flooding. New flood policies usually have a 30-day wait.

Does North Carolina tax Social Security?

No. North Carolina does not tax Social Security benefits.

What should I do first after moving to Brunswick County?

Get your utilities in your name, switch your car insurance to an NC policy, and sign up for ReadyBrunswick alerts. Then get your NC driver's license within 60 days.

Moving to Brunswick County? Talk With Danielle King

I'm Danielle King, a REALTOR® with Realty ONE Group Dockside, licensed in North Carolina and South Carolina. My real estate roots go back to 1995 in the Poconos, so I know what it's like to start over somewhere new. I help buyers find the right home and the right town, then I make sure they know who to call once the keys are in their hand.

Want help finding your home in Brunswick County? Call or text me, or book a call. Already own a home here? See What Your Home Is Worth.

Danielle King, REALTOR®
Realty ONE Group Dockside | Licensed in NC & SC
843-997-2744 | danielle@yourkeytorealty.com | yourkeytorealty.com

Explore Brunswick County Towns and Communities

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Phone numbers, fees, and rules come from Brunswick County, town, utility, and NC DMV sources as of October 2026 and can change. Confirm with each provider. This page is general information, not legal, tax, or insurance advice. Brightlight Insurance is an independent business. Equal Housing Opportunity.

What should I read before buying in Brunswick County?

Start with these guides. They answer the questions I hear most from buyers and sellers in Brunswick County and nearby. New guides are added every week.

Browse more: All Brunswick County NC guides | Moving to Brunswick County guides | Seller guides