Crane work in Leland and northern Brunswick County
Across the Cape Fear from downtown, Leland is one of the fastest-growing towns in the state. Crane work here is mostly new homes, shops and the utilities that serve them, and the permit office depends on who owns the road.
Who issues a permit for a crane in a Leland street?
For town-maintained streets, the Town of Leland issues right-of-way encroachment permits through its Engineering department at Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Drive, with the fee paid by check. Roads maintained by NCDOT, which include US 17, US 74/76 and many local routes, need an NCDOT encroachment as well.
- Town streets need a Leland right-of-way encroachment permit from Engineering.
- NCDOT roads need an NCDOT encroachment as well.
- East Lake plans about 3,800 homes on 2,060 acres off US 74/76.
- Novant won state approval in 2026 for a 20-bed Leland hospital near Compass Pointe.
Who owns the road in Leland
Leland, Belville and Navassa sit side by side across the river from Wilmington, and each runs its own streets. Most of the main routes belong to NCDOT.
- Town of Leland streets. Right-of-way encroachment permits come from Leland Engineering at Town Hall, 102 Town Hall Drive. The fee is paid by check.
- NCDOT roads. US 17, US 74/76, NC 133 and many local routes. These need an NCDOT encroachment, even inside town limits.
- Belville and Navassa. Ask each town hall.
- Private subdivision streets. Until the town accepts them, the HOA or developer decides.
What is being built
Leland keeps adding homes. A developer has asked to rezone East Lake, a project of about 3,800 homes on 2,060 acres off US 74/76 near Malmo Loop Road, with a 190-acre golf course planned, and its first section, New Leaf, has broken ground. In March 2026, Novant Health won state approval for a 20-bed hospital near Compass Pointe.
That growth means steady truss sets, rooftop units on new shops and utility work, most of it a boom truck job for a few hours.
Crossing the river
Most cranes coming from Wilmington cross the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge or the Isabel Holmes Bridge. Rush hour on US 17 and the bridges can add time, and with many companies billing from the yard, that time shows up on the ticket. Book early starts for jobs across the river.
Sand, water and wires
New Brunswick County lots are often sand or fresh fill near wetlands. Tell the operator if the setup spot is soft. Keep equipment at least 10 feet from lines over 600 volts unless the line owner makes safety arrangements first.
What a Leland lift costs
On the posted sheet, a 22-ton boom truck is $265 an hour with a 1-hour minimum, and a 40-ton is $285 with a 2-hour minimum. A truss set or a rooftop unit in Leland usually runs 2 to 4 hours with travel. See the prices page.
Other questions
Does a crane from Wilmington cost more in Leland?
Only by the travel. Leland is just across the river, so the drive is short unless the bridges are backed up. On the posted sheet, an extra hour of the 22-ton boom truck is $265.
Are the streets in my new subdivision town streets?
Not always. Some new subdivision streets stay private until the town accepts them. Ask your HOA or the developer, since that decides whether a town permit is needed.
What about Belville and Navassa?
Each is its own town with its own streets. Call the town hall for a street permit, and NCDOT for any state-maintained road.
Wilmington sources
Get this Wilmington lift priced
Rough numbers are fine.
Keep reading
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Wilmington crane prices by the hourA posted sheet from a 22-ton boom truck to a 115-ton crane, minimums from 1 to 8 hours and the counterweight trailer.
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Setting roof trusses with a crane around WilmingtonA crane for a truss set on a new Wilmington-area home: boom truck sizing, sandy lots, how long a set takes, delivery timing and posted hourly crane prices.
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A rooftop unit lift in WilmingtonSetting a rooftop unit in Wilmington: boom truck or crane by reach, the $30 crane lift permit, rush-hour closure limits, downtown notice and posted prices.