Do I need a permit for screen enclosure or pool cage in Unincorporated Duplin County?

Most likely yes. Screen enclosure or pool cage usually requires a permit in North Carolina. Confirm the specifics with Unincorporated Duplin County.

A screen room or porch enclosure is new construction that adds a structure, so it generally requires a building permit and is not covered by the minor-work exemption. Enclosing an existing covered porch may still require zoning and setback review; confirm with your local department before you build. Duplin County's own permitting office is the Duplin County Building Inspections office, reachable on 910-296-2124 at https://www.duplinnc.gov/182/Building-Inspections. It issues permits for the unincorporated county. If your city does not run its own building department, this is the office that will handle the job, and that is more common in North Carolina than most states: the county is often the building authority even inside city limits, with the city handling only zoning. An attached enclosure is a structural addition, so expect a plan review and a footing and attachment inspection. A screened porch or enclosure attached to the home involves load-bearing structure, which is outside the NCGS 160D-1110(c) exemption, and Duplin County Building Inspections issues the permit in unincorporated areas. Property within a town's limits or ETJ needs that town's zoning approval before the county issues the permit, according to the county's building permit checklist.