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Water Damage & Mold Help in Hampstead, NC

Hampstead has grown fast along U.S. 17 between Wilmington and Topsail Island, with new neighborhoods going up next to marshland and creeks that flooded hard during Hurricane Florence. Here's what local homeowners should know.

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Map of the Dry Coast Restoration service area, highlighting Hampstead in Pender County, NC

Homes in Hampstead

Hampstead is an unincorporated community in Pender County that stretches along U.S. 17 and borders tidal marshes and the Intracoastal Waterway. Its population was about 7,000 at the 2020 census, and it has kept growing quickly since. Pender County as a whole has more than doubled in population over the past 30 years and issued permits for more than 5,100 new housing units from 2020 through 2024. With the Hampstead Bypass on the way, more neighborhoods and townhome projects keep being proposed along the corridor.

That means many Hampstead homes are new or nearly new, alongside older homes closer to the water. New homes avoid some problems, like old plumbing, but they bring others: tightly built houses that trap moisture, attic air handlers, and neighborhoods built on land where stormwater has to go somewhere.

Flooding and storm history

Hurricane Florence hit Pender County hard in 2018. Floodwaters covered an estimated quarter of the county. In Hampstead's Cross Creek neighborhood, dozens of homes flooded with water as high as the windows, and for a time the only way in or out was by boat. Flooding was also reported in the Avondale community. In the years since, the state and FEMA have funded projects to remove flood risk from 31 repeatedly flooded properties in Pender County, including homes in Hampstead.

Stormwater has stayed a concern as the area grows. Recently, the county planning board turned down plans for more homes in one large Hampstead development over stormwater concerns. For homeowners, the takeaway is simple: even newer neighborhoods can see water in yards, crawl spaces and garages during heavy rain.

Why being unincorporated matters

Because Hampstead isn't an incorporated town, there's no town hall for permits. Building permits and inspections for repairs, like replacing drywall, electrical work or a new HVAC system after water damage, go through Pender County. Ask your contractor whether permits are needed for your repairs.

Hampstead at a glance

More help in and around Hampstead

Nearby: Surf City, Wilmington, Burgaw · All service areas

Frequently asked questions

Is Hampstead part of a town?

No. Hampstead is an unincorporated community in Pender County, so permits and inspections for repairs go through Pender County rather than a town government.

Did Hampstead flood during Hurricane Florence?

Parts of it did. The Cross Creek neighborhood saw water as high as the windows in dozens of homes and was reachable only by boat for a time, and flooding was also reported in the Avondale community. Many other homes had roof leaks and wind-driven rain damage.

Is my Hampstead home in a flood zone?

Areas near the marsh, the Intracoastal Waterway and local creeks are more likely to be in mapped flood zones, but flooding can happen outside them. Look up your address on FEMA's Flood Map Service Center or Pender County's GIS maps.

How fast can someone get to my home in Hampstead?

Often the same day. Response times depend on your location, the time of day and conditions, and can be longer right after a major storm. For active leaks, calling is the fastest way to get help.

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