Welcome to New Bern, NC

Community & Economic Development

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Quick Stats

Welcome to New Bern, North Carolina, recently named America's favorite small town skyline! It's no surprise given our coastal location along two beautiful rivers and our historic downtown that dates back more than three centuries. As North Carolina's first capital, New Bern has grown up with a focus on the past and an eye on the future. Situated along the state's newest interstate (the future I-42), New Bern's mobility corridor is experiencing significant growth in the midst of a major transportation upgrade to U.S. Highway 70 that is set to open in 2025.

Looking to relocate to New Bern? Exploring investment opportunities for your business? Our Community and Economic Development Division fosters stability and growth across New Bern by improving housing conditions and public facilities, and enhancing quality of life for residents. Our focus is a growing local economy of small business, commercial and industrial opportunity. We're committed to bringing new business to New Bern while working with existing businesses to ensure their success. Community and Economic Development provides resources for helping interested businesses with site location, technical assistance, grants, loans and other relevant information. To contact us, call (252)639-7592.

Retail Market Analysis
The City recently completed a retail market analysis detailing retail market activity in and around city limits. The analysis assessed opportunities for retail development around three geographic boundaries: New Bern, Craven County, and the New Bern MSA (Craven, Jones and Pamlico Counties). Four centers of retail activity were also considered: Havelock, Kinston, Jacksonville and Greenville. Click here to print/download the Retail Market Analysis.

>Vacant Commercial Properties (click here for interactive map)

Thinking of Starting a Business?
The mission of the Small Business Center is to help aspiring entrepreneurs. Their goal is to increase the success rate of start-ups and the number of viable small businesses in eastern North Carolina by providing high-quality, readily accessible assistance to prospective and existing business owners. They also offer confidential business counseling services and resource libraries. All services and workshops are fully-funded and available at no charge.

Development Review
Site plan review is required for all commercial development projects involving the construction, exterior alteration, relocation, occupancy, or change in use of any building. The Departmental Review Committee is composed of Planning, Building Inspections, Fire, Public Works, Engineering, Police, and Public Utilities, working together to render decisions on applications as a single decision-making body. For more information pertaining to the site plan review process, click here for City Code Section 15-71

Department Review meetings are held monthly at 9:00 a.m. in the Development Services Conference Room located at 303 First Street. A complete application is required and must include three (3) sets of folded site plans and one (1) electronic copy of the submittal package. Questions may be directed to the Land and Community Development Administrator at (252)639-7582 or by clicking here to email.

Major Projects