2011 Legislation Related to Planning, Development, and Land Use Regulation

UPDATED:  THROUGH ACTIONS TAKEN 8/12/2011

David Owens

School of Government

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

 

The 2011 session of the North Carolina General Assembly convened on January 26, 2011 and adjourned on June 18, 2011. The General Assembly will reconvene on September 12, 2011 to consider gubernatorial vetoes, redistricting, conference reports, and other specified matters.

The following is a list of bills related to planning, land use regulation, environment, transportation, and similar matters introduced in the 2011 session. Individual appropriation bills are generally not listed as those to be approved are typically incorporated into the annual budget bill.

House bills are listed first, followed by Senate bills. The last action taken in each house is indicated.  For bills that have become law, a session law chapter number is included in the last column.  Abbreviations used in the table are:

  • "Comm. fav." indicates the bill was reported out of a committee with a favorable recommendation, but no floor action has been taken.
  • "Comm. unfav." indicates it was reported with an unfavorable report and generally no further action is taken on that bill.
  • "Passed" indicates the bill passed third reading in the indicated house.
  • "Conf." indicates a conference committee has been appointed to reconcile differences in House and Senate versions of adopted bills.
  • "Ratif." indicates final legislative approval has been made and the bill ratified, but the bill is awaiting gubernatorial action before becoming law.

All non-money bills must have passed in its house of origin by June 9 (June 12 for the Senate) (the "cross-over" deadline) in order to be considered by the second house during the 2011 or 2012 sessions.

Quick links to the bill texts are provided for some bills. Clicking on the underlined Bill Numbers in the far left column will take you to the General Assembly's detailed information on that bill (including sponsors, detailed bill history, and votes). That site also has a link for the latest text of the bill. Clicking on the underlined Session Law numbers in the far right column will take you to a copy of the bill as enacted. Copies of the texts of all bills, and a detailed legislative history for each bill, can be obtained through the General Assembly's Bill Information web site.  

 

Bill
Number

Title/Short Description

Identical

House Action

Senate Action

Session Law 

 

H. 8

Set referendum for Nov. 2012 on proposal to amend state constitution to prevent use of eminent domain for economic development purposes and to require a jury trial on just compensation upon demand by condemnees

S. 37

Passed

    

H. 9

Moratorium on all involuntary municipal annexations until 7/1/2012 and toll any pending involuntary annexations until that date

        

H. 22

2011-13 budget technical corrections

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-391

H. 45

Allow risk-based remediation of contaminated industrial sites

S.48

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-186

H. 56

Make prior local annexations subject to repeal upon 60% petition: Asheville, Goldsboro, Kinston, Lexington, Marvin, Rocky Mount, Southport, Wilmington

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-177

H. 62

Disapprove French Broad River basin rules as adopted by the EMC

S.64

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-24

H. 87

Set referendum for Nov. 2010 on proposal to amend state constitution to create "sunshine right" -- rights to inspect and copy any public records of state and local governments and to require all meetings be open and noticed

S. 67

      

H. 92

Repeal authority for land transfer taxes

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-18

H. 95

Clarify and expand railroad corridor protection provisions and to require consideration of railroad corridors in local land development permitting

        

H. 116

Allow single-family homes on existing lots to encroach into coastal wetland riparian buffers in Neuse and Tar-Pamlico coastal areas

S. 232

Comm. fav.

    

H. 119

Amend statutes regarding landfill disposal of beverage containers, stormwater reuse, and irrigation systems; delay Jordan Lake rules; allow cisterns; miscellaneous others

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-394

H. 133

Limit municipal petitions for annexation by Lewisville

S. 80

      

H. 165

Amend provisions of Planned Community Act

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-362

H. 168

Modify definition of "bona fide farms" exempt from county zoning; exempt bona fide farms from inclusion in ETJ and from involuntary annexation

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-363

H. 171

Prohibit municipal petitions for voluntary annexation of property it does not own, including street ROW easements

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-57

H. 177

Environmental technical corrections

  

Passed

    

H. 195

Exempt farms from municipal ETJ zoning, clarify definition of bona fide farm, and prohibit involuntary annexation of bona fide farms

        

H. 196

Deannex specified area from Goldsboro

  

Comm. fav.

    

H. 200

2011-13 Appropriations Act

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-145

H. 208

Allow Winston-Salem to secure possession and title of lands condemned for public transportation projects

  

Passed

    

H. 210

Exempt school animal husbandry buildings from building code

S. 184

      

H. 220

Designate Waccamaw River as isolated river basin

S. 213

      

H. 226

Prohibit sweepstakes devices

        

H. 228

Allow video lottery and limit local regulation of same

S. 209

      

H. 231

Repeal specified Fayetteville annexation

  

Comm. fav.

    

H. 237

Require economic impact statement on all proposed state regulation changes

  

Passed

    

H. 242

DENR study oil and gas drilling, especially directional and horizontal drilling, fracking; adjust fees and landowner rights

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-276

H. 246

Incorporate Lake James

        

H. 266

Allow specified additional local governments to expedite leases for renewable energy facilities

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-150

H. 268

Disapprove water reuse rules

  

Passed

    

H. 281

Create House Select Committee on ETJ to report in 2012

  

Passed

    

H. 292

Incorporate Rougemont

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-114

H. 294

Allow Sampson Co. to deny permits for delinquent taxes

        

H. 295

Allow Sampson Co. to deny building permits for delinquent taxes

        

H. 307

Allow Wake Co., Cary, Clayton, Wendell, and Zebulon to use electronic notice in lieu of public notice of hearings

        

H. 309

Allow soil and water conservation districts to establish funds for conservation easement maintenance

        

H. 326

Moratorium on involuntary annexations in Buncombe County

  

Comm. fav.

    

H. 327

Incorporate Leicester

  

Comm. fav.

    

H. 329

Expand equine facility building permit exemption

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-365

H. 332

Prohibit use of development moratoria for purpose of developing new development regulations

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-286

H. 349

Promote green roofs on buildings by providing credits for stormwater fees and property tax credits

        

H. 350

Clarify property taxes for conservation lands held by nonprofits

S. 579

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-274

H. 352

Delay Kannapolis annexation to 9/30/13 at city’s request

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-124

H. 358

Require Chatham Co. approval prior to Apex or Cary annexations into the county

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-151

H. 361

Allow Currituck Co. to provide electronic notice of public hearings

        

H. 367

Deannex area from Roanoke Rapids

S. 313

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-158

H. 368

Establish special fund for operation, development, and expansion of state historic sites

S. 340

      

H. 388

Allow cross-connections between potable and reclaimed water with DNER approval

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-218

H. 403

Allow large municipalities to apply demolition by neglect provisions to contributing structures outside historic districts in CBD

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-367

H. 406

Modify provisions regarding voluntary agricultural districts

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-219

H. 410

Allow Pinebluff to preserve undeveloped land for park

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-133

H. 415

Preserve littoral rights with Nags Head and Topsail Beach renourishment projects

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-78

H. 418

Deannex specified area from Winston-Salem

  

Comm. unfav.

    

H. 422

Prohibit state from accepting federal grants for high-speed rail projects without explicit legislative approval

  

Passed

    

H. 433

Modify provisions on abatement of public nuisances

        

H. 454

Study artificial slope standards

        

H. 455

Set standards for state-funded outdoor lighting

        

H. 472

Allow all cities and counties to provide electronic notice of public hearings in lieu of published notice

        

H. 486

Deannex specified area from Tryon

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-159

H. 492

Remove specified unincorporated area from stormwater program coverage

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-220

H. 504

Allow Carrboro to use 2012 building codes

        

H. 505

Limit application of stormwater provisions regarding linear projects such as greenways

        

H. 506

Allow Wrightsville Beach to remove abandoned vessels

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-82

H. 513

Allow Aberdeen tree removal ordinance

        

H. 520

Allow specified Troutman voluntary annexation, with county approval

        

H. 521

Extend Troutman ETJ to specified area, with county approval

        

H. 531

Revise process and standards for involuntary annexation

        

H. 548

Clarify Graham/Swain county line

        

H. 558

Provide for notice to chronic zoning violators in Winston-Salem

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-142

H. 562

Modify Asheville/Woodfin boundary

        

H. 565

Modify Morehead City/Beaufort boundaries

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-179

H. 567

Stagger terms on Mountain Resources Commission

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-372

H. 573

Adjust Raleigh-Wake Forest boundary

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-162

H. 585

Direct ERC to study in-state energy production from gas, oil, wind, and solar

  

Passed

Comm. fav.

  

H. 586

Allow use of Clean Water Fund for land acquisition for future reservoirs

  

Passed

    

H. 609

Promote water supply development

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-374

H. 620

Allow DOT to maintain historic appearance in paving roads

S. 592

Passed

    

H. 623

Allow final decision-making by ALJ in some contested cases

  

Passed

    

H. 655

Prohibit nutrient management requirements unless receiving waters designated as nutrient sensitive

        

H. 671

Anti-litter provisions, including bottle deposit

        

H. 687

Provide for attorney fees if ordinance adopted without statutory authority

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-299

H. 704

Study state energy needs, with focus on alternative fuels for vehicles

  

Passed

    

H. 746

Referenda on constitutional amendment regarding citizen participation in governmental decision-making

        

H. 773

2011 studies act

  

Passed

Passed

Conf.

H. 787

Establish water efficiency program

  

Passed

Passed

  

H. 797

Limit ETJ to “urban purposes” and prohibit use for meeting environmental rules

S. 622

      

H. 801

Provide for legislative review of 2012 building code

        

H. 806

Amend zoning statute of limitations (one year from accrual, max. of three years for defects in adoption process; map amendments stay at two months); limit restrictions on single-family homes on lots over ten acres; study limits on county zoning requirements that lots exempt from subdivision regulation be accessible for emergency services

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-384

H. 811

Study transportation funding process

  

Passed

    

H. 819

Allow repair or reconstruction of large single-family and duplex homes on its original footprint within ocean setback provided specified minimum setback met

  

Passed

    

H. 827

Require subdivision ordinances to allow surety bonds in place of letters of credit for performance guarantees

        

H. 839

Expand setbacks from specified resources for septage land application sites

        

H. 841

Require program evaluation of Global Transpark

S. 409

      

H. 843

Modernize emergency management statutes

  

Passed

    

H. 845

Revise annexation laws

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2001-396

H. 861

Allow menu of taxes and fees for local governments, including meal tax, occupancy tax, tax on conveyances, and impact fees

        

H. 873

Amend Jordan Lake rules

        

H. 876

Create independent energy efficiency administrator and program

        

H. 887

Mandate that zoning treat temporary family health care structures as permissible accessory to single-family residences

  

Passed

Comm. fav.

  

H. 901

Authorize legislative study of protection of Masonboro Island

  

Comm. fav.

    

H. 907

Reform annexation relative to low income minority areas

        

H. 912

Allow Greensboro and High Point to petition for receivers to rehab, demolish, or sell vacant dilapidated homes

        

 

 

 

S. 3

Broaden definitions of banned internet sweepstakes games

        

S. 27

Make specified pending involuntary annexations subject to veto by 60% petition of affected owners

{H. 56}

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-173

S. 37

Set referendum for Nov.2010 on proposal to amend state constitution to prevent use of eminent domain for economic development purposes and to require a jury trial on just compensation upon demand by condemnees

H. 5

      

S. 67

Set referendum for Nov. 2012 on proposal to amend state constitution to create "sunshine right" -- rights to inspect and copy any public records of state and local governments and to require all meetings be open and noticed

H. 87

      

S. 80

Limit municipal petitions for annexation by Lewisville

H. 133

      

S. 107

Repeal provision regarding taxation of improved properties within official corridor maps

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-30

S. 110

Permit limited number of  terminal groins

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-387

S. 118

Expand potential revitalization projects in downtown service districts

  

Comm. fav.

Passed

  

S. 165

Limit Turnpike Authority alternate routes for Triangle Expressway

H. 225

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-7

S. 181

Allow no cleanup of leaking underground storage tanks under specified circumstances

    

Passed

  

S. 183

Allow vegetation removal for billboard visibility for state permits

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-397

S. 184

Exempt school animal husbandry buildings from building code

H. 210

      

S. 187

Prohibit red light cameras

    

Passed

  

S. 200

Allow Alamance and Orange County to specified remaining unsurveyed boundary

H. 213

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-87

S. 201

Establish boundary between Alamance and Orange County

H. 214

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-88

S. 209

Allow video lottery

H. 228

      

S. 213

Designate Waccamaw River as isolated river basin

H. 220

      

S. 214

Revise provisions of official transportation corridor map statute

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-242

S. 231

Require interconnection of public water systems in specified circumstances

    

Passed

  

S. 232

Mandate that wetland be considered part of buffers rather than part of surface water for Neuse and Tar-Pamlico rules

H. 116

      

S. 237

Incorporate Castle Hayne

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-166

S. 263

Allow Wake Co. municipalities to exempt farm accessory buildings in ETJ from building permits

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2001-34

S. 289

Deannex area from Cape Carteret

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-167

S. 290

Annex area into Pelitier

        

S. 281

Allow municipal service districts to convert private streets to public streets

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-72

S. 308

Prohibit state regulation of greenhouse gases that are more stringent than federal regulation

    

Passed

  

S. 305

Expand Carrboro authority to prohibit housing discriminations

        

S. 309

Conservation easement stewardship funds

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-209

S. 315

Allow campaign signs in state highway rights of way

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-408

S. 318

Repeal plastic bag ban in coastal area

        

S. 340

Establish special fund for operation, development, and expansion of state historic sites

H. 368

  

Passed

  

S. 344

Modify public records and open meetings statutes

        

S. 354

Required long-life batteries in new smoke detectors in rental housing

        

S. 380

Exempt farming from zoning coverage in municipal ETJ

    

Passed

  

S. 409

Require program evaluation of Global Transpark

H. 841

      

S. 413

Clarify what constitutes “first reading” for city and county ordinance adoption process

  

Passed 2d

Passed

  

S. 420

Modify public records/open meetings law

        

S. 425

Modify ecosystem enhancement and mitigation programs

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-343

S. 427

Modify water supply statutes

        

S. 428

Study consolidation of state environmental boards and commissions

    

Passed

  

S. 430

Study uranium mining near Roanoke River

        

S. 431

Incorporate Fontana Dam

H. 447

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-110

S. 492

Protect landowner water rights

  

Comm. fav.

Passed

  

S. 499

Clarify agricultural land preservation role of Dept. Agriculture

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-251

S. 501

Allow modifications of swine houses

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-118

S. 504

Establish water infrastructure authority

        

S. 515

Study municipal incorporation

        

S. 529

Require septic waste fields to have 100-foot setback from wetlands

        

S. 530

Prohibit involuntary annexation of farms

    

Passed

  

S. 548

Revise annexation statutes

        

S. 560

Maintain legal nonconforming status for relocating sport shooting ranges

    

Passed

  

S. 561

Cap maximum civil penalties for first time sedimentation control violations

    

Passed

  

S. 592

Allow DOT to maintain historic appearance in paving roads

H. 620

      

S. 598

Require EIS prepared under SEPA to consider impacts on farms

        

S. 601

Allow regional transportation funding agreements

        

S. 606

Direct DWQ to study reclaimed water issues

        

S. 615

Increase bond for natural gas exploration and study hydraulic fracturing

        

S. 621

Allow specified “simulated gaming” in restaurants and hotels

        

S. 622

Limit ETJ to “urban purposes” and prohibit use for meeting environmental rules

H. 797

      

S. 623

Create exceptions to riparian buffer rules for Neuse and Tar-Pamlico basins

        

S. 625

Establish conditions and requirements for adoption of new environmental rules

        

S. 627

Reform annexation laws

        

S. 640

Increase tax credit for conservation land donations

        

S. 646

Modify annexation and ETJ statutes

        

S. 676

Clarify rights of property owners regarding private drinking water wells

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-255

S. 677

Consolidate various trust funds into single Conservation Trust Fund and create commission for oversight

        

S. 683

Require reasonable cause prior to building inspections; limit residential rental registration programs

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-281

S. 708

Effective date of building code rules

  

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-269

S. 709

Direct Governor to pursue compact with SC and VA relative to off-shore energy development; require report on on-shore shale gas development

  

Passed

Passed

Vetoed

S. 731

Limit application of design standards to residential structures with four units or less

    

Passed

  

S. 747

Encourage development of off-shore wind energy

        

S. 773

Allow cities and counties to provide electronic notice of public hearings in lieu of published notice

        

S. 781 

Amend state rule making process, including review of existing rules, limits on environmental rules more restrictive than federal rules 

H. 933

Passed

Passed

S.L. 2011-398