Billing & Collections

The Billing and Collections division is tasked with ensuring that payments due to the city are processed promptly.

City Fee Schedule(PDF, 440KB)

 Types of payments collected
Trash Bags & Stickers             Police Service Fees 
 Legal Payments    Loan Payments
 Civil Penalties    Property Liens
 Parking Tickets    Inspection Fees
 SafeLight Tickets    Privilege Licenses

 

Hours

Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The office is closed for the following holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Veteran's Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas

Payment in Person

Please visit the first floor of the Skyline Center, 929 N. Front St., Wilmington, NC 28401, during regular business hours.

Payment by Phone

For this type of payment, you must use a Mastercard or a Visa. Please call 910-343-4745 between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Payment by Mail

Please write your invoice number or your account number on the payment remittance.

Regular mail:
City of Wilmington
Attn: Collections 
P. O. Box 1810
Wilmington, NC 28402

Express mail:
City of Wilmington
Attn: Collections
929 North Front Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

 

Privilege License (beer, wine & taxicabs)

Effective July 1, 2015, the North Carolina General Assembly eliminated the authority of municipalities to levy a business license tax with the exception of beer, wine, and taxicabs. More information is covered in the vehicle for hire ordinance, and the detailed WPD webpage. For questions please call the Privilege License Department at 910.342.2742.

To obtain a Taxi / Limousine / Vehicle for Hire permit, you must:

  •  Pay the city for the cost of the permit: Taxis $15, Horse Drawn Carriage/Limousine/Pedicab $25
  • Pay the city for the cost of the business license: $15 per vehicle
  • Pay the FBI for the cost of your Federal Background check: $18
  • Have a valid ID
  • Have a letter of introduction from a taxi company
  • Have a completed application
  • Have a picture (will be taken by the permit administer)
  • Have drug screen results (drug screening costs: $25 to $35)

To sell Beer and/or Wine:

All special one-time permit applications must be submitted to the ABC Commission no later than two weeks prior to your event. Please keep this timeline in mind when submitting your application to WPD. Completed applications will be processed in the order in which they are received. Forms can be emailed to stingcenter@wilmingtonnc.gov. Emails should have "ABC Permit Application" in the subject line. The STING center's phone number is 910.765.7822.

  1. Limited Special Occasion Permit: This permit is suitable for special events or occasions where alcohol will be served. Apply online or access the forms.

  2. Special One-Time Permit: If you need a temporary permit for a specific event or purpose (such as an auction or the sale of alcoholic beverages), you can find the application forms here.

  3. Retail Permits: Depending on your business structure (corporation, individual ownership, LLC, etc.), there are different retail permits available. You can explore the various retail permit application forms here.

  4. Commercial Permits: If you’re involved in commercial alcohol sales, there are specific permits for corporations, partnerships, and other business entities. Find the commercial permit forms here.

In-person Ink Fingerprinting
  • Must have a valid ID
  • Available Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
  • Contact Inspector Bluford to schedule an appointment before making payment: 910.343.3628 
  • $15 for 2 cards / $5 each additional card (FD-258 cards)  
  • Fee must be paid at the City of Wilmington Collections Department located on the first floor of 929 N. Front St. prior to fingerprinting (ink only) 
  • For electronic fingerprinting, contact the New Hanover County Sheriff's office: 910.798.4535
Request a Housing Loan Payoff

Please call Holly Bruhn 910.341.5825 or Dawn Coleman 910.341.4601 for information.

Please provide the information listed below and allow up to one week for processing.

  • Property address
  • Borrower's name and contact phone number
  • Payoff date
  • Requesting party's name and phone number
  • Email address where the payoff should be sent
Request a Lien Assessment

Please email request to lienrequests@wilmingtonnc.gov and provide the following information.

  • Property ID
  • Property address
  • Property owner
  • Lien information if applicable
Information for Small Businesses

Businesses within the City of Wilmington are required to register with the NC Secretary of State. Assumed business names (DBA) are required to register with the New Hanover County Register of Deeds. To confirm how your location is zoned, contact the City of Wilmington Zoning department at 910.254.0900.

Available Resources

Helpful Contacts
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