For families considering options for senior living, North Carolina is often at the top of the list — and for good reason.
Whether you prefer laid-back beach towns, mountain hikes, or something in between, North Carolina has something to offer — and that’s what makes it an ideal retirement destination. The Outer Banks region along the state’s eastern coast is a popular tourist spot, featuring lighthouses, beaches, and countless other aquatic activities. It’s also home to Kitty Hawk, the seaside town where the Wright brothers made their historic first airplane flight. Then, on North Carolina’s western edge is where the breathtaking Blue Ridge Mountains run through the state. Peppered throughout all of North Carolina are small yet vibrant college towns like Asheville and Chapel Hill, along with larger metropolitan areas like Charlotte. Add mild weather and low property taxes to the mix, and it’s clear why the Tar Heel State has one of the fastest-growing populations in the United States.
Currently, A Place for Mom partners with more than 150 independent living communities, sometimes simply called retirement communities, in North Carolina.
The median monthly cost of independent living in North Carolina is about $2,600.
My husband and I have lived here for almost three years. We had lived at two other local senior living places and feel that this is the best. Having live in managers makes a big difference. The staff and...
It's a beautiful facility! Lots of fun activities, full of friendly people, and the staff is amazing. I've been here for 6 months and would highly recommend to anyone looking to live in a retirement...
Atria is a caring place, where people actually get to know each other. The staff is helpful, food is good and plentiful (three full meals a day), and they offer fun events for residents and their families...
Trevi Senior Living has been an outstanding choice for my dad. The staff is truly great—professional, caring, and incredibly attentive to his needs. The food is excellent, and the Physical Therapy team...
We have been very pleased . The staff has been very kind. [name removed] has been very patient and kind to always patient and kind to answer our questions and keep us posted of any needs my sister has had...
[name removed] has been very helpful. What we like the most about the community is the lively environment, bright space and plenty of activities. Yes, we would recommend Providence Meadows to other families...
My mom moved from NY to be near us. She can't drive so the best perk is the GW bus that takes her on errands & doctors' appointments. She has a big social life attending outings & is in 5 clubs. Staff is...
5 for all! It's been fantastic for my parent. The best part is the very professional staff in the office and at the front desk. The place is always clean, without weird odors and excuses. It's simply well...
The admin team and care staff are very friendly & helpful. We were particularly impressed with onsite nursing staff that is available if needed as well as the nurse practitioner that the facility contracts...
My friend used A Place For Mom and they found Creekside Terrace for her. She loves all the people and the staff. She says all the staff care about their residents and all the residents are so welcoming. ...
The staff are very caring and sincere in all they do. The food is great per my loved one and others. The activities are great. I have been pleasantly impressed with Heritage Woods. Director [name removed] is...
Harmony at Reynolds Mountain is very friendly. You feel at home the minute you walk in. Everything looked clean and well-kept. It looked like they had plenty of activities. You find anything you would like...
I moved in her with my wife after reviewing several other facilities. Very happy with the support provided, when needed. My wife died recently, and I made the decision that staying here was preferable to...
Trinity View was excellent for my mom. They gave her community and helped back to such a stable state that we were able to bring her home with us. The staff is incredible and so friendly. I would definitely...
Independent living communities are not regulated or licensed like senior care facilities in North Carolina. While independent living communities typically offer senior-focused features and amenities and have age restrictions, they are treated as regular rental properties.
Some North Carolina independent living communities may share a campus with other senior living facilities. This may include assisted living or memory care communities which offer a higher level of care and are subject to regulatory oversight and licensing requirements. For information senior living communities that offer care services, you can visit our overviews of assisted living and memory care in North Carolina.
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Stand-alone independent living communities don’t share a campus with other senior living facilities and often closely resemble an apartment building or other multi-family home dwellings. Unlike typical rental properties, independent living facilities are allowed to impose age restrictions which usually require residents to be 55+ or 62+.
In North Carolina, residents of independent living facilities are entitled to certain rights as outlined in the state’s landlord-tenant laws. These rights may include the following:[01]
Many towns and counties in North Carolina have housing codes that offer additional protections for residents of rental properties. Examples of local house codes may require a rental home to have screens on windows, specific types of locks on the doors, and regulations around hot and cold water. For an example of other municipal housing codes, see the city of Charlotte’s Code of Ordinances page.
The federal government and the state of North Carolina protect residents of rental properties against discriminatory practices. Property owners cannot refuse to rent to someone based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or family status.[01]
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
101 Blair Drive
Raleigh, NC 27603
Phone: 888-893-1162
Overview of Independent Living in NC
The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.
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