The Dare County Board of Commissioners will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 9 a.m. on Monday, May 4, 2026. The meeting will take place in the commissioners meeting room, which is adjacent to the Dare County Administration Building located at 954 Marshall C. Collins Drive in Manteo. Click here to view the agenda packet for the meeting. 

Stay Informed! Catch the meeting live on Dare County's YouTube Channel, CurrentTV.org or Channel 191 (Spectrum TV). Missed it? Watch on-demand the next day at DareNC.gov.

Public Comment: Speak for up to five minutes at the start of each meeting—either at the Dare County Administration Building in Manteo or the Fessenden Center Annex in Buxton.

Catch the Highlights: Meeting highlights are posted on DareNC.gov after each meeting. To get them straight to your inbox, sign up at DareNC.gov/Subscribe.

For more information about the Dare County Board of Commissioners, visit DareNC.gov/BOC or click the button below.

All Dare County offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, May 25, 2026 in observance of Memorial Day. These offices and facilities will reopen and resume their regular hours of operation on Tuesday, May 26, 2025. 

These closures include the Dare County C&D Landfill, Manns Harbor Transfer Station, Buxton Transfer Station and Manteo Recycle Yard.

Dare County Public Works—which provides trash collection for the unincorporated areas of the county as well as the Town of Kitty Hawk—has announced that there will be no changes to the Dare County Public Works trash collection schedule for the week of Memorial Day 2026. 

All areas whose trash collection and sanitation services are provided by the Dare County Public Works Department will therefore operate on their normal schedule during the week of Monday, May 25, 2026 through Friday, May 29, 2026.

To view a list of trash collection schedules for the unincorporated areas of Dare County and the Town of Kitty Hawk, please visit DareNC.gov/Trash or click the button below.

National Hurricane Preparedness Week runs from Sunday, May 3, 2026 through Saturday, May 9, 2026, and Dare County Emergency Management encourages all Dare County residents and property owners to take the proper steps to ensure they are fully prepared for the upcoming hurricane season, which officially begins on Monday, June 1, 2026.

This means planning in advance so you’ll be signed up to receive customized emergency alerts and other critical notifications, have an emergency kit stocked and ready to go if a storm strikes, and have your 2026 reentry pass ready to present to local officials once it’s safe to return to Dare County following an evacuation.

The Dare County Public Works Department will host a three-day household hazardous waste collection event in three separate locations from Thursday, May 14, 2026 through Saturday, May 16, 2026. 

During this free event, Dare County residents and property owners can drop off a variety of hazardous materials—including motor oil in spill-proof containers, along with paints, polishes, varnishes, fluorescent lightbulbs, household cleaners, pesticides and insecticides, small batteries, automotive fluids, pool chemicals and more—for safe and convenient disposal at any of the following locations in Dare County during the designated times. 

Northern Beach Collection: Kitty Hawk Town Hall (101 Veterans Memorial Drive), 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, May 14, 2026

Buxton Collection: Buxton Transfer Station (47015 Buxton Back Road), 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2026

Manteo Collection: Dare County Public Works (1018 Driftwood Drive), 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 16, 2026

Please Note: This household hazardous waste collection event is only for Dare County residents (both property owners and year-round residents), as well as the agricultural community/farmers within Dare County. Residents of Dare County may use any of the three locations noted above during the three-day household hazardous waste collection event for their convenience.

For more information about Dare County's upcoming household hazardous waste collection event—including a list of items that will be accepted as well as the types of items that are typically not accepted—watch the video on Dare County’s YouTube channel or click the button below to view the event flyer. Questions? Please contact Doug Huff, solid waste superintendent for the Dare County Public Works Department, at Doug.Huff@DareNC.gov or 252-475-5843.

The Dare County Extension Master Gardeners will host the 22nd Annual Coastal Gardening Festival on Saturday, May 2, 2026 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Thomas A. Baum Senior Center, located at 300 Mustian Street in Kill Devil Hills. The highlight of this annual event is the huge plant sale, featuring over 1,500 plants grown by local Master Gardeners, including trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals, vegetables and houseplants. 

More than 50 vendors will also be onsite offering garden art, pottery, refreshments and a wide variety of hand-crafted items. Additionally, the event will offer an education tent providing important information about plants that don’t just survive—but thrive—on the Outer Banks. A scavenger hunt will take place for kids, and a raffle with a $500 grand prize and other great items will also be held.

Don’t forget to visit the “Ask a Master Gardener” booth, which will be available to answer your gardening questions and provide information about the plants that can be purchased during the festival.

The Coastal Gardening Festival is free to attend and will take place on Saturday, May 2, 2026 rain or shine. This event promises to be a day filled with plant sales, bake sales, vendors, education and fun activities for the whole family. Don’t miss the chance to support the N.C. State Extension Master Gardener Volunteers of Dare County and enjoy a day of gardening and community spirit!

For more information, please call the Dare County Extension office at 252-475-9245 or click the button below.

Attention seniors, disabled individuals and U.S. veterans! Do you need help paying your 2026 property taxes? The Dare County Tax Department would like to remind eligible Dare County property owners that the June 1, 2026 deadline to submit an application for three property tax relief programs authorized by the State of North Carolina is just one month away. Dare County seniors ages 65 and older, disabled individuals and disabled U.S. veteran homeowners who meet the requirements specified by the North Carolina General Statutes are encouraged to apply as soon as possible! All requirements must be met by January 1, 2026.

Seniors (65+) & Disabled Program:

Homeowners who are ages 65 and older—or anyone who is totally and permanently disabled—can receive an assessment reduction of $25,000 or up to 50 percent off their home value, whichever is greater, if they meet certain income (income of $38,800 or less in 2025) and ownership requirements. Married couples may qualify even if only one partner is age 65 or older or disabled. This tax relief benefit does not need to be repaid. For applicants who are permanently disabled, a Certification of Disability form must be completed in addition to the application. 

Circuit Breaker Tax Deferment Program:

Seniors ages 65 and older—or anyone who is totally and permanently disabled—who has owned and occupied their home for at least five years may choose this program, which ensures their property tax bill will not be more than 4-5 percent of their income. Taxes will be limited to 4 percent of income if income during 2025 was $38,800 or less (combined income for married couples). If income for 2025 was $38,800 to $58,200, taxes will be limited to 5 percent of income. Homeowners will have to repay this tax relief benefit, for example, if they move or sell their home. For applicants who are permanently disabled, a Certification of Disability form must be completed in addition to the application.

Disabled Veterans Program:

Honorably discharged U.S. veterans of any age who have a total and permanent service-connected disability—or their unmarried, surviving spouse—can receive a $45,000 reduction off their home’s value, regardless of income. This tax relief benefit does not need to be repaid. A Certification for Disabled Veterans form must be completed in addition to the application.

To qualify for any of these tax relief programs, you must be a resident of Dare County who owns—and occupies—your home as your primary residence as of January 1, 2026. Property owners must file an application for the tax relief program for which they are eligible by the June 1, 2026 filing deadline. Completed applications can be mailed to: Dare County Revaluation, PO Box 1000, Manteo, NC 27954.

For more information about each tax relief program—and to download application forms—visit DareNC.gov/TaxRelief or click the buttons below. Questions? Contact the Dare County Tax Department at 252-475-5854 or TaxRelief@DareNC.gov.

There’s still time for local students to get creative and submit their entries for the Dare County Water Department’s Professor Faucet-themed coloring contest—and the deadline is quickly approaching! The Dare County Water Department invites children from kindergarten through high school to participate in a Professor Faucet-themed coloring contest that began last month and will continue through 5 p.m. on Friday, May 22, 2026. Don’t miss the opportunity to take part in this fun and educational activity! 

Professor Faucet is Dare County’s educational water conservation character who helps residents and property owners learn how to protect water resources, use water wisely and prevent common plumbing issues through a series of fun facts, helpful tips and interactive activities. Designed to make water education engaging and accessible, Professor Faucet—along with his surfboard-turned-lab kit—encourages members of the Dare County community to take an active role in caring for this essential resource.

Coloring contest participants in elementary school can obtain a free official coloring page from the Dare County Water Department to personalize, while participants in middle school and high school are encouraged to create their own original Professor Faucet-themed design. Participants should also be sure to include at least one fun fact about water or a water-saving tip on their artwork.

Official coloring sheets can be picked up at the Dare County Water Department offices in Kill Devil Hills (600 Mustian Street) and Frisco (50225 Water Association Road), or downloaded online at DareNC.gov/Water. All completed entries—whether using the official coloring sheet or an original design—must be returned in person to either the Kill Devil Hills or Frisco office by Friday, May 22, 2026 at 5 p.m.

Once the Professor Faucet coloring contest entries are submitted, a total of four winners will be chosen—one from each age group, as follows:

• Kindergarten to 2nd Grade
• 3rd Grade to 5th Grade
• 6th Grade to 8th Grade
• High School

Each winner will receive two free tickets to the H2OBX Waterpark, located at 8526 Caratoke Highway in Powells Point, NC. 

Reminder: The deadline to submit an entry for the coloring contest is Friday, May 22, 2026 at 5 p.m. Entries must be returned to the Dare County Water Department offices in either Kill Devil Hills or Frisco.

Questions? Contact the Dare County Water Department via email at Water@DareNC.gov or by calling 252-475-5990.

Dare County, in partnership with Current TV, has released a new video highlighting the numerous volunteer opportunities that are available through the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department, which relies on the dedication of hundreds of volunteers each year to help deliver a variety of programs that strengthen our community. 

From coaching youth sports like basketball, soccer, baseball, softball, volleyball, t-ball and football, to supporting the Dare County Senior Games by serving as race timers or event managers and more, volunteers play a vital role as mentors, leaders and advocates for active, healthy living. Each volunteer role contributes directly to making Dare County Parks and Recreation programs successful and accessible for residents of all ages. 

Do you want to help create meaningful experiences for children, adults and seniors in our community and ensure Dare County remains a vibrant place to live, play and connect? Sign up by visiting one of Dare County Parks and Recreation's three offices to speak with staff about available opportunities or click here to download a volunteer application. For more information about the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department, visit DareNC.gov/Parks. 

Our Outer Banks SPCA Pet of the Week is Daffodil! Daffodil is a little over 1-year-old and absolutely full of life. This playful girl is always ready to turn anything into a toy and will happily keep you entertained with her silly antics. When she’s not busy playing, she’s right by your side soaking up all of the love and attention she can get!

Are you ready to meet Daffodil or other adoptable pets? Stop by the Dare County Animal Shelter, located at 378 Airport Road in Manteo, and click here to watch a video produced by Current TV. For more information, please visit OBXSPCA.org or contact the Outer Banks SPCA at 252-475-5620!

Outer Banks SPCA Adoption Hours:

Monday to Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (closed from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. for naptime)