New Bern sits where the Neuse and Trent Rivers meet, and its four National Register historic districts hold more than 164 listed homes and buildings within walking distance of the waterfront. Some of them date back as far as the early 18th century. Drive out toward Trent Woods, Fairfield Harbour, Vanceboro or Havelock and the houses change to newer single-story and multi-story construction, townhouses and split-level homes.
That mix matters when someone in the family starts having trouble with the stairs. A narrow staircase in an old Downtown house, a raised entry in a flood-prone neighborhood and a split-level in River Bend each call for a different kind of lift. This page walks through what we look for in Craven County homes and which programs may help cover the cost.
New Bern has two municipal Local Historic Districts, Downtown at 368.64 acres and Riverside at 51.94 acres. Both carry a zoning overlay that legally protects the exteriors of historic structures.
An indoor stair lift usually stays inside the house and does not change the outside of the building. Outdoor lifts, platform lifts at an entry or any work visible from the street are a different story. In these districts, plan for historic-preservation review on top of standard permitting, and build that time into your schedule.
Older staircases in these homes are often steep, narrow or turn partway up. Those stairs usually need a curved rail made to fit, rather than an off-the-shelf straight unit.
New Bern sits at an elevation of only about 13 feet. Hurricane Florence in 2018 brought a storm surge of up to 13.5 feet and days of heavy rain that severely flooded parts of town, and Hurricane Floyd in 1999 also caused significant flooding.
Because of that history, many homes near the rivers have been raised or have elevated entries. Getting from the driveway to the front door can be the hardest part of the day, so an outdoor stair lift or a platform lift may be the first thing to consider, before anything inside.
Flood-damaged staircases can complicate a retrofit. If the stairs took on water in a past storm, we check the treads and framing before mounting a rail. Repairing a weak stair first is part of doing the job right.
Craven County spans about 773.28 square miles in the coastal plain, from the Croatan National Forest to farm towns like Cove City, Bridgeton and Dover. The housing is mostly single-family homes and detached houses, with townhouses, walk-up apartments and split-level homes mixed in.
A single straight flight in a detached house or townhouse is the simplest install and usually the least expensive. Split-level homes often have two short flights, which can mean a curved lift or two separate straight lifts. Walk-up apartments raise a different question: the renter will need the landlord's permission before anything is bolted to the stairs.
About 21.3% of county residents are 65 or older, and 64.7% of households own their homes. Owners have the widest range of funding options, since several state programs listed below are limited to homeowners.
None of the programs below names stair lifts outright on the pages we reviewed, and one, the VA HISA grant, explicitly excludes stair glides. That does not mean the answer is no for every program. It means you should call and ask directly whether a stair lift fits under home repair, mobility or accessibility improvements.
A good first call is the Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging at (252) 638-3185, at 233 Middle Street, Suite 300, in New Bern. They can tell you whether the state home improvement funds are active in Craven County this year. For Medicaid-based help, Craven County DSS at (252) 636-4900 is the local starting point.
Veterans can reach Craven County Veterans Services at (252) 636-6611, 2402 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd, Suite 15, New Bern, to sort out which VA grants apply.
This service provides labor and/or materials for minor renovations and repairs that fix health and safety risks for older adults in the nine-county region that includes Craven County; stair lifts are not listed on its page. Call (252) 638-3185 to ask.
CAP/DA funds home and community-based services for NC Medicaid recipients age 18 and older with disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization; the page reviewed does not itemize whether stair lifts or home modifications are covered. Apply through Craven County DSS Adult Services or call (800) 662-7030.
For people age 60 or older with no one able and willing to help, this program covers repairs including mobility and accessibility improvements, capped at $7,000 per individual per program year; stair lifts are not named. Call (800) 662-7030, or check current Craven County funding with Eastern Carolina Council AAA at (252) 638-3185.
This program helps NC homeowners who are permanently physically disabled get accessibility modifications so they can live at home safely; stair lifts are not specifically listed. Call (919) 877-5700 to confirm current terms.
An interest-free, deferred, forgivable loan for elderly or disabled NC homeowners at or below 80% of area median income, covering health and safety repairs through local partners; stair lifts are not named. Call (919) 877-5700 to be referred to a local provider.
HISA pays for permanent alterations like entrance ramps and roll-in showers, up to $6,800 or $2,000 lifetime depending on disability status, but it explicitly does not cover stair glides or porch lifts. Call (800) 827-1000 for details.
These grants, up to $126,526 for SAH and $25,350 for SHA in FY2026, help homeowners with specific severe service-connected disabilities buy, build or remodel for accessibility; stair lifts are not specifically named. Call (800) 827-1000.
Not a direct grant, but the local intake and referral point for Adult Services, Senior Services and Medicaid programs such as CAP/DA, at 2818 Neuse Blvd., New Bern; no stair lift benefit is itemized. Call (252) 636-4900.
Older adults
233 Middle Street, Suite 300, New Bern, 28560
Veterans
2402 Dr. MLK Jr. Blvd, Suite 15, New Bern, 28562
The Downtown and Riverside Local Historic Districts protect building exteriors, so retrofits there may need historic-preservation review in addition to standard permitting. An indoor lift is less likely to affect the exterior than an outdoor or entry lift, but check before work starts.
Not through the HISA grant, which explicitly excludes stair glides and porch lifts. The SAH and SHA grants can fund accessibility remodeling for veterans with specific severe service-connected disabilities, though their page does not name stair lifts. Craven County Veterans Services at (252) 636-6611 can help you check.
The NC Division of Aging home improvement program requires age 60 or older. CAP/DA serves NC Medicaid recipients age 18 and older with disabilities, and the Displacement Prevention Partnership serves homeowners who are permanently physically disabled, with no age listed.
Call the Eastern Carolina Council Area Agency on Aging at (252) 638-3185 for aging services and home repair funding. For Medicaid programs like CAP/DA, contact Craven County DSS at (252) 636-4900, 2818 Neuse Blvd., New Bern.
Often, yes, but flood-damaged staircases can complicate a retrofit. The stairs need to be sound before a rail is mounted, so plan on an inspection and any needed repair first.
You will need your landlord's permission for any installation. Most state programs here are for homeowners, while the VA HISA grant applies to owned or rented homes but does not cover stair glides.
Tell us about the stairs in your home and we will explain which lift fits, what it costs and how installation works.
