All Dare County offices and facilities will be closed on Monday, September 7, 2026, in observance of Labor Day. These offices and facilities will reopen and resume their regular hours of operation on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.  

The closures include the Dare County C&D Landfill, Manns Harbor Transfer Station, Buxton Transfer Station and Manteo Recycle Yard; however, there will be no changes to Dare County Public Works’ trash collection schedule on Labor Day (Monday, September 7, 2026).  

All areas whose services are provided by the Dare County Public Works Department—which includes the unincorporated areas of Dare County as well as the Town of Kitty Hawk—will therefore operate on their normal schedule during the week of Monday, September 7, 2026, through Friday, September 11, 2026.

Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company has provided an update on the ongoing Buxton beach nourishment project, which began Friday, July 31, 2026. 

To date, a total of 930,441 cubic yards of sand have been placed along the shoreline in the Buxton project area. 

During the project, approximately 2 million cubic yards of sand will be placed along Buxton's oceanfront beaches from the Haulover Day Use Area to just south of the Buxton Beach Access over an estimated 95-day construction period, depending on weather and ocean conditions.*  

Click here to view the 2026 Buxton beach nourishment map.  

Sign up for Buxton beach nourishment email updates. 

Dare County will host three community meetings in early October to provide residents with information about the one-quarter cent ($0.0025) sales tax referendum that will appear on the November 3, 2026, General Election ballot. If approved by voters, the sales tax increase—which is just one-quarter of a penny—would provide a dedicated source of funding for improvements, renovations and expansions to Dare County Parks and Recreation facilities and fields, addressing needs identified through a countywide recreation assessment and community input.  

The resulting $56.9 million Parks & Recreation Recommendations and Implementation 2025-2035 Plan developed by McGill Associates includes improvements intended to expand capacity and enhance recreational opportunities for residents of all ages, from youth and teens to adults and older adults. Because the scope and cost of these identified needs exceed what can be funded through the county’s normal budgeting process, the proposed sales tax would provide an additional funding source for these long-term investments.  

If approved during the November 3, 2026, General Election, the sales tax rate would increase from 6.75% to 7.0%, generating an estimated $6.1 million annually to support the plan and related programming. Groceries, gasoline, automobiles, and prescriptions would be exempt from the increase, and the estimated added cost for residents is approximately $14 per year for individuals or $22 per year for families. 

The upcoming community meetings are designed to give the public an opportunity to learn more about the referendum, the proposed Parks & Recreation improvements and what the measure would entail ahead of Election Day. 

The community meetings will be held at each of the Dare County Parks and Recreation Department’s three divisions as follows.  

• Hatteras Island Division: Monday, October 5, 2026, at 6 p.m.
  Fessenden Center (46830 N.C. Highway 12, Buxton, NC)  

• Roanoke Island/Mainland Division: Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at 6 p.m.
  Lions Club Center (1000 Westcott Park Road, Manteo, NC)  

• Northern Beach Division: Wednesday, October 7, 2026, at 6 p.m.
  Dare County Youth Center (602 Mustian Street, Kill Devil Hills, NC) 

For more information, including the answers to a variety of frequently asked questions about the referendum, visit DareNC.gov/QuarterCent.  

Dare County reminds members of the community about an upcoming free public workshop about coyotes that will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Fessenden Center in Buxton. The session will give residents and visitors an opportunity to learn directly from wildlife experts about coyote behavior and how to safely coexist with these animals. 

Since first appearing on the Outer Banks in the mid-2000s, coyotes have become an established part of the local environment. Biologists from the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the National Park Service will discuss the history and behavior of coyotes on the Outer Banks, current research and management efforts on Cape Hatteras National Seashore, and practical steps residents and visitors can take to help prevent conflicts. Attendees will also have an opportunity to ask questions during a Q&A session with the presenters. 

Featured speakers will include wildlife biologists Falyn Owens and Dallas Shoemaker with the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission’s Wildlife Management Division and Meaghan Johnson, Chief of Resource Management and Science for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  

Members of the public are encouraged to attend this informative session to learn more about coyote management, hear directly from wildlife experts, and gain practical information that can help reduce conflicts while promoting safe coexistence with wildlife. 

For questions about the workshop, contact Dare County Public Information Director Dorothy Hester at 252-475-5903 or Dorothy@DareNC.gov. 

For additional information about coyote management, visit the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission's coyote information page. 

Dare County EMS and the Kill Devil Hills Fire Department will host their annual March to Remember September 11 on Friday, September 11, 2026, inviting members of the public to join emergency responders in honoring the lives lost and the sacrifices made on September 11, 2001. The march will begin promptly at 8:46 a.m., the time when American Airlines Flight 11 struck the North Tower of the World Trade Center. 

Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at Dare County EMS Station 1/Kill Devil Hills Fire Department Station 14, located at 1628 N. Croatan Highway in Kill Devil Hills. Attendees are encouraged to park at Meekins Park or the Dare Centre and walk to the station, which serves as the starting point for the walk. Light refreshments, generously donated for the event, will be available for attendees. 

Participants will then walk approximately two miles to the Wright Brothers National Memorial, where they will pause to remember and honor those who lost their lives, as well as the first responders and ordinary citizens who demonstrated extraordinary courage and sacrifice in the aftermath of the attacks. 

The round trip from Dare County EMS Station 1 to the monument at the Wright Brothers National Memorial and back is approximately four miles and takes 90 minutes. Participants should hydrate before beginning the walk and ensure they are physically able to walk the distance. Attendees are encouraged to dress comfortably, wear appropriate footwear and bring water. Participants are also encouraged to wear something meaningful to honor those who gave all.

When severe weather, an emergency or an unexpected service disruption occurs, having timely information can make all the difference. OBX Alerts is Dare County’s emergency notification platform, allowing residents and visitors to choose how they receive important updates—by text message, phone call and/or email. 

Depending on your location and the notifications you select, alerts may include: 

• Severe weather warnings 
• Evacuation orders and emergency information 
• Water service disruptions 
• Town-specific notifications 
• Daily beach conditions 

Take a few minutes today to make sure you’re connected. Visit OBXAlerts.com to create your profile and select the notifications you would like to receive. 

For emergency text alerts, you can also text DareEmergencyAlerts to 77295 to subscribe. 

Don’t wait for the next storm or emergency to make sure you’re signed up. Stay informed. Stay connected. Stay prepared. 

Digging holes is a favorite beach activity for many visitors to the Outer Banks; however, deep holes can become dangerous in seconds. In this beach safety video, Dare County EMS Paramedic Garrett Porter explains how unstable sand can suddenly collapse, trapping the person inside and making it extremely difficult to move, breathe, or escape. Deep, unfilled holes can also remain a hazard long after you leave the beach, putting other visitors at risk of serious injury.  

When you're enjoying a day at the beach, a few simple precautions can help keep everyone safe. Learn why it's best to avoid digging deep holes, keep any holes shallow, and always fill them in completely before leaving the beach. To view the video on Dare County’s YouTube channel, visit YouTube.com/DareCounty or click the button below. For additional beach and ocean safety tips to help you have a safe, enjoyable day on the Outer Banks, visit LoveTheBeachRespectTheOcean.com. 

Our Outer Banks SPCA Pet of the Week is Tango!  

Tango is a sweet, almost 1-year-old orange tabby looking for his forever home. He’s affectionate, chatty and loves attention. He especially enjoys being held, and he’s always happy when it’s time to eat. He’s a loving, social little guy with a big personality who would make a wonderful companion.   

Ready to meet our Pet of the Week?  

Stop by the Outer Banks SPCA, which is located within the Dare County Animal Shelter at 378 Airport Road in Manteo, anytime during the hours listed below for a meet and greet, 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!