Where Wilmington and New Hanover County legal notices are published: the statewide NC Notices site, council and board agendas, foreclosures and bids.

Last checked Oct. 11, 2026. This page is an index, not the official publication. Wilmington Daily does not publish legal notices. North Carolina law sets where official notices must appear, which is usually a qualifying newspaper; use the official links below, and check with the agency named in any notice.

Public notices tell residents about public hearings, rezonings, foreclosures, estates, bids and other legal actions before they happen. In Wilmington they appear in a few places. This index points you to each one.

Who to call

  • City of Wilmington notices and hearings: City Clerk, 910-341-7816, Skyline Center, 929 N. Front St., third floor
  • New Hanover County government: 910-798-7311
  • Statewide notice search: NC Notices, run by the North Carolina Press Association

1. The statewide notice site

The North Carolina Press Association runs ncnotices.com, a free search of public notices published in member newspapers across the state. Search by county (choose New Hanover), by city (Wilmington) or by keyword. Its publications list includes the StarNews, Wilmington’s daily newspaper. The site also explains the rules on its About Public Notices page.

Popular searches there include foreclosures, construction and engineering bids, demolition and unclaimed property.

2. City of Wilmington hearings and agendas

  • City Council meets generally on the first and third Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Skyline Center, 929 N. Front St. Agendas are posted the Friday before on the city’s agenda site.
  • Public hearing comments: the City Clerk’s comment form opens the Thursday before a meeting and closes at noon the day before. To speak in person, file the speaking request form by noon on the business day before.
  • Rezonings and land use: the Planning Commission and Board of Adjustment pages list upcoming cases with links to the files. For a rezoning, the city also posts signs on the property and mails letters to nearby owners.
  • Public records requests: the city’s records request portal.

See our building permits and zoning guide for how those boards work.

3. New Hanover County

  • Board of Commissioners agendas and meeting notices are on the county’s calendar; the board’s regular meetings are at the Historic Courthouse, 24 N. Third St.
  • Tax foreclosures: the county Tax Department’s Foreclosures page lists properties being sold for unpaid taxes.
  • Board of Elections meetings are posted on its page; see our voting guide.

4. Courts, estates and unclaimed property

  • Estate notices (notices to creditors) and many court-ordered notices run as legal ads in newspapers; search ncnotices.com for the person’s name.
  • Unclaimed property held by the state can be searched through the N.C. Department of State Treasurer.

What this means for you

  • Rezoning near your home? Watch for the sign on the property and the letter in the mail, then check the Planning Commission page.
  • Want to comment on a council hearing? The form closes at noon the day before.
  • Need the official text of a notice? Go to ncnotices.com or the newspaper, not this page.

Frequently asked questions

Where are legal notices published in Wilmington, NC? Legal notices run in qualifying newspapers and are collected on the North Carolina Press Association’s statewide site, ncnotices.com, which can be searched by county and lists the StarNews among its publications.

Is this page the official publication of public notices? No. This page is an index that points to official sources. Wilmington Daily does not publish legal notices, and nothing here replaces the official notice.

How do I comment on a Wilmington City Council public hearing? Use the City Clerk’s comment form, open from the Thursday before the meeting until noon the day before, or sign up to speak by noon on the business day before. The clerk’s office is at 910-341-7816.