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North Carolina: homes, climate zones and who licenses the work

North Carolina has 4.9 million housing units. 33.9% were built before 1980, and the median year built is 1991. 66.6% of occupied homes are lived in by their owners.

How old the homes are

North Carolina housing units, by year built

Layers drawn to scale

North Carolina housing units by year built 33.9% of North Carolina housing units were built before 1980 and 66.1% in 1980 or later. 2020 or later: 3.0%; 2010–2019: 13.5%; 2000–2009: 18.6%; 1990–1999: 16.9%; 1980–1989: 14.0%; 1970–1979: 12.0%; 1960–1969: 7.8%; 1950–1959: 6.1%; 1940–1949: 3.1%; 1939 or earlier: 4.9%. Before 1980 33.9% 1980 or later 66.1% 2020 or later 3.0% 2010–2019 13.5% 2000–2009 18.6% 1990–1999 16.9% 1980–1989 14.0% 1970–1979 12.0% 1960–1969 7.8% 1950–1959 6.1% 1940–1949 3.1% 1939 or earlier 4.9%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035 and B25003; heating fuel below from B25040.

Age changes what applies to a house. In general, anyone paid to do work that disturbs painted surfaces in a home built before 1978 must be certified in lead-safe work practices under the EPA's Renovation, Repair and Painting Rule, which North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Health Hazards Control Unit administers in North Carolina.

How homes are heated

How homes in North Carolina are heated

Main heating fuel, share of 4.3 million occupied homes

  • Electricity 65.5%
  • Utility gas 24.5%
  • Propane or other tank gas 6.0%
  • Fuel oil or kerosene 2.0%
  • Wood 1.1%
  • No fuel used 0.7%
  • Other fuel 0.2%
  • Solar energy 0.1%
  • Coal or coke <0.1%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, table B25040 (occupied housing units).

Climate and building zones

The 2021 International Energy Conservation Code assigns every county a climate zone from 1 to 8 and a moisture regime: A for moist, B for dry, C for marine. Zones 7 and 8 have no letter. Here is how North Carolina's residents divide among them, by the county they live in.

IECC 2021 zoneShare of residentsCounties
3A89.4%79
4A9.4%16
5A1.2%5

ENERGY STAR rates windows, doors and skylights for four climate zones of its own. North Carolina spans 2: South-Central (88.8% of residents), North-Central (11.2% of residents).

By NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals, counties here average 68 days a year with a low of 32°F or colder, weighted by where people live. The range runs from 28 days in the mildest county to 136 in the coldest.

Flood risk and flood insurance

2.6% of residential structures in North Carolina carry a National Flood Insurance Program policy: 106,560 policies, in FEMA's count as of August 3, 2026.

In FEMA's National Risk Index, 4 of 100 counties rate high or very high for riverine flooding; 5 of 100 counties rate high or very high for coastal flooding; 23 of 100 counties rate high or very high for hurricanes.

Fire ants and termites

77 of North Carolina's 100 counties are inside the federal imported fire ant quarantine, home to 85% of its residents. The federal quarantine requires a certificate to move soil, sod, nursery plants with soil attached, used soil-moving equipment, and hay or straw stored on the ground out of the quarantined area.

Who licenses the work in North Carolina

Before anyone starts work, check the license with the agency below. Where the state does not license a trade, cities and counties may; ask the one where the house is.

Checked 2026-09-29. Licensing rules change; the agency's own page is the authority.

Sources

  1. U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates, tables B25034, B25035, B25040 and B25003 data.census.gov
  2. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Guide to Determining Climate Zone by County: Building America and IECC 2021 Updates basc.pnnl.gov
  3. U.S. Department of Energy Prototype Building Models (climate zones 1–8 and moisture regimes A, B, C) energycodes.gov
  4. ENERGY STAR Climate zones by county for windows, doors and skylights energystar.gov
  5. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual and seasonal ncei.noaa.gov
  6. Federal Emergency Management Agency OpenFEMA NFIP Residential Penetration Rates (as of 2026-08-03) fema.gov
  7. Federal Emergency Management Agency National Risk Index, county ratings fema.gov
  8. USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Imported fire ant quarantine map aphis.usda.gov
  9. Electronic Code of Federal Regulations 7 CFR part 301, subpart P, Imported Fire Ant ecfr.gov
  10. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division ncagr.gov ncagr.gov
  11. North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division ncagr.gov ncagr.gov
  12. North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors nclicensing.org nclicensing.org
  13. North Carolina State Board of Examiners of Plumbing, Heating and Fire Sprinkler Contractors nclicensing.org nclicensing.org
  14. North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors nclbgc.org nclbgc.org
  15. North Carolina Licensing Board for General Contractors portal.nclbgc.org portal.nclbgc.org
  16. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Health Hazards Control Unit epa.gov epa.gov
  17. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health, Health Hazards Control Unit dph.ncdhhs.gov dph.ncdhhs.gov