Carteret County, North Carolina Public Records

Mugshots or booking photos in Carteret County can be accessed through the Carteret County Sheriff's Office. The office may provide these images on their official website or through their public records request process. For online access, check the inmate search tool on their website, which often includes booking photos alongside arrest details.

To obtain a criminal background check in Carteret County, you can request a check through the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI). Locally, you may also visit the Carteret County Clerk of Court's office to inquire about any additional county-specific procedures. The SBI provides a form that must be completed and submitted along with the required fee for processing.

You can look up sex offenders in Carteret County by accessing the North Carolina Sex Offender Registry. This registry is maintained by the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and provides a searchable online database. You can search by name, address, or proximity to a specific location to find registered offenders in the area.

You can register to vote in Carteret County online at ncsbe.gov/registering, by mail, or in person at the Carteret County Board of Elections at 1702 Live Oak Street, Suite 101, Beaufort, NC 28516. The registration deadline is twenty-five days before any election, though North Carolina offers same-day registration during the early voting period if you miss the regular deadline. You must be a U.S. Citizen, North Carolina resident, and at least 18 years old by the next general election. Once registered, you can request absentee ballots through the elections office or vote early at designated sites beginning seventeen days before Election Day.

Property records in Carteret County are maintained by the Register of Deeds (1702 Live Oak Street, Beaufort) for recorded deeds, mortgages, liens, and plats, and by the Tax Department (3900 Bridges Street, Morehead City) for assessment and tax information. Both offices provide free online searches through carteretcountync.gov where you can search by owner name, address, or parcel number to view ownership history, property characteristics, tax assessments, and payment status. The county's GIS mapping system offers detailed parcel information including aerial imagery and boundary maps. Certified copies of recorded documents cost five dollars for the first page plus two dollars per additional page and can be requested in person or by mail.

Birth and death certificates for events occurring in Carteret County can be obtained from the Carteret County Register of Deeds at 1702 Live Oak Street, Beaufort, NC 28516 (252) 728-8474) or from the North State Vital Records Office in Raleigh. Birth certificates cost twenty-four dollars and require government-issued photo ID from an eligible requester (the individual, parent, guardian, or legal representative). Death certificates also cost twenty-four dollars for the first copy, with additional copies fifteen dollars when ordered simultaneously. In-person requests are typically processed immediately; mail requests take two to three weeks. Online ordering is available through vitalrecords.nc.gov with expedited shipping options for additional fees.

Business records in Carteret County are maintained by multiple offices depending on the record type. Fictitious name registrations (DBAs) are filed with the Carteret County Register of Deeds at 1702 Live Oak Street, Beaufort, and are public records searchable at that office. Corporations, LLCs, and other business entities must register with the North Carolina Secretary of State, whose free searchable database is available at sosnc.gov. Municipal business privilege licenses are issued by individual towns (Morehead City, Beaufort, etc.) and require contacting each municipality's finance or tax office. Building permits and zoning records are maintained by the Carteret County Planning and Inspections Department at 3900 Bridges Street, Morehead City (252) 728-8570).