Town Manager's Welcome

Welcome to the Town of Emerald Isle's official website! Your interest in Emerald Isle, North Carolina is genuinely appreciated. This website is designed to inform residents, property owners and visitors about the Town, its government and specifically available programs and services. The Town administration strives to ensure that the website is regularly updated to encourage its use as a valuable resource for anyone desiring to stay informed about this wonderful resort community.

Emerald Isle visitors and locals alike are fortunate to be able to enjoy a beautiful natural environment with seemingly limitless outdoor recreational opportunities available in and around Emerald Isle. With outstanding Atlantic Ocean beaches flanking the entirety of its southern boundary and the pristine waters of Bogue Sound, home to the Intracoastal Waterway, flanking the northern boundary and Bogue Inlet embracing the entire west end, this special barrier island paradise allows endless opportunities for all types of water access and a full range of related activities including swimming, sunbathing, fishing, surfing and boating. To this end, the Town maintains more than 100 public water access points with over 500 strategically located public parking spaces available in its 5.2 square miles of land area. The Town also provides numerous other recreational and leisure type amenities including a regional boat ramp facility, regional ocean access facilities, playgrounds, neighborhood parks, 73 acres of natural passive parklands and over 13 miles of biking, walking and jogging pathways and trails that traverse the entire 12 mile length of Emerald Isle's presence on the Crystal Coast of North Carolina.

Consistent with Emerald Isle's highly valued "small town atmosphere", the Town is fortunate to be home to a high quality group of more than 200 small businesses that support the community throughout the year. First-class vacation rental agencies, boutique lodging facilities, great local restaurants, and an eclectic variety of retail shopping opportunities abound. The service industries are also well represented locally. Beyond the town borders, the counties of Carteret and Onslow, as well as, several neighboring municipalities compliment Emerald Isle's offerings with additional amenities and services for residents, property owners and visitors to enjoy.

In addition to the stated offerings, Emerald Isle is blessed to have a concentration of people from varied backgrounds who make up a thoughtful and caring citizenry. They take pride in their community and are dedicated to its continued success. Citizens are fortunate to be represented by a Mayor and Board of Commissioners who are likewise strongly committed to making Emerald Isle the best it can be as a tourism destination while preserving its "family beach" image. With the vast majority of the land mass of Emerald Isle developed as single-family residential neighborhoods, Town leaders have carefully crafted land use policies to strike a desired balance between environmental protection and the development of quality neighborhoods and commercial districts with necessary supporting infrastructure while respecting the rights of all property owners and residents. Leadership is further committed to the provision of essential public services including as a priority emergency services necessary for public health, safety and welfare.

Emerald Isle is also fortunate to have a dedicated team of qualified and capable professional staff serving the Town who keenly recognize how special this place is to so many. The staff is driven toward the goal of providing the highest quality level of service in as cost-effective a manner as possible to preserve and when prudent enhance the quality of life of Emerald Isle.

Whether you are a current or potential year round resident, second home owner, rental property owner/investor, business owner or service provider, a family looking for an annual weeklong vacation paradise or simply someone seeking a quick weekend getaway, I encourage you to further explore what Emerald Isle has to offer.

The Town of Emerald Isle stands ready to assist with any inquiries or concerns you may have. And, although the staff is currently navigating an administrative leadership change after almost two decades of stability, Town leaders remain committed to maintaining the exceptional customer service this community has come to enjoy and expect. On behalf of the Town administration, rest assured it is my intention to ensure a smooth transition in the months ahead.

Emerald Isle truly believes that "NICE MATTERS" and looks forward to having the opportunity to prove it.

Best Wishes,

Matt Zapp

Town Manager