2003 Bills

2003 Legislation Related to Planning, Development, and Land Use Regulation

David W. Owens
School of Government
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Updated: 9/30/03
The following is a list of bills related to planning, land use regulation, environment, transportation, and similar matters that are under consideration in the 2003 session of the North Carolina General Assembly. The 2003 session of the General Assembly convened on January 29 and adjourned July 20.

Senate bills are listed first, followed by House bills. The last action taken in each house is indicated. "Comm. favorable" indicates the bill was reported out of committee, but no floor action taken. "Passed" indicates the bill passed in the indicated house. "Conf." Indicates a conference committee was appointed to reconcile differences between versions of a bill adopted by the House and Senate, but no agreement was reached prior to adjournment. " For bills that have become law, a session law chapter number is included in the last column.

The Senate will reconvene September 15, 2003 for a session to up to five days to consider insurance reform and economic development proposals. There is also a likelihood that a special session on legislative redistricting will be called for the fall 2003.

The 2004 session will convene on May 10, 2004. Only the following bills may be considered in the 2004 session: bills affecting the 2004-05 budget; bills that passed one house of the General Assembly in 2003 by May 1, 2003; study committee recommendations; noncontroversial local bills; bills making appointments; pension and retirement bills, bills disapproving state administrative rules, and others bills if authorized by a two-thirds vote of both houses.

Copies of the texts of all bills, and a current 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 Chapter No.
S. 3	Amend constitution to limit sessions of General Assembly	H. 28		Passed
S. 6	Ban video poker (except on Reservations)			Passed
S. 34	Reestablish Highway Trust Fund study committee		Passed	Passed	Conf.
S. 63	2003 Appointments Bill		Passed	Passed
S. 76	Incorporate Village of Misenhimer		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-268
S. 83	Allow Rocky Mount to provide annual notice re violation of overgrown vegetation ordinance		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-80
S. 89	Create Lake Lure Marine Commission		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-332
S. 106	Annex specified territory in Roanoke Rapids	H. 135 passed
S. 119	Extend and expand historic preservation tax credit		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-415
S. 122	Exempt Gastonia, Locust, Pine Level, Ranlo, Bladenboro from limits on area of satellite annexations		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-30
S. 123	Authorize Clinton, Lumberton, and Franklin to use demolition as remedy for unsafe residential buildings in CD target areas	H. 263	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-42
S. 137	Substitute Technical Corrections		Passed	Passed	Conf.
S. 160	Clarify scope of delegated authority to local governments (no Dillon's Rule), facilitate coordination of programs, allow greater intergovernmental coordination			Comm favorable
S. 168	Limit annexation of economic development district in Johnston County		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-418
S. 181	Authorize Apex to regulate demolition of historic structures		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-88
S. 232	Authorize counties to expend funds for bikeways		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-256
S. 287	Incorporate town of Mills River	H. 232 passed
S. 290	Authorize Greensboro to order to repair rather than vacate substandard residential structures		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-76
S. 291	Authorize Greensboro and Kernersville to spend funds on state roads outside city limits	H. 466; H. 627 passed		Passed
S. 292	Allow Raleigh, Lake Waccamaw to use electronic publication of notice for certain public hearings		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-161
S. 314	Exempt Richlands from limit on size of satellite annexations
S. 317	Cabarrus annexation moratorium		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-326
S. 322	Require interconnection of public water and sewer systems into regional systems under specified conditions
S. 328	Annex specified land into Jonesville	H. 326 passed
S. 330	Allow Raleigh, Rutherfordton, Holly Springs to regulate tree cutting	See H. 516, 517, 679		Passed
S. 356	Allow Henderson to provide annual notice to nuisance lot violators	H. 401	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-40
S. 357	Allow Roanoke Rapids to require repair rather than vacation of dilapidated housing		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-320
S. 384	Amend Highway Trust Fund regarding description of Durham Outer Loop, add Fayetteville and Greenville loops	H. 674	Passed	Passed	Conf.
S. 395	Exempt Pine Level from limits on satellite annexations
S. 396	Annex specified street in Raeford		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-17
S. 408	Allow Eden annexation contracts		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-316
S. 419	Annex specified area in Chadbourne	H. 515	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-18
S. 425	Authorize Cabarrus County to use electronic posting in lieu of publication of notices		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-81
S. 426	Delete role for county commissioners in road abandonment within cities
S. 436	Allow impact fees for schools in Durham County
S. 448	Deannex specified area in Pittsboro
S. 452	Expand satellite annexation options for cities in Union County		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-321
S. 459	Authorize Holly Springs tree protection ordinance	H. 517 passed
S. 461	Authorize North Topsail Beach to exercise ETJ
S. 465	Allow Goldsboro, High Point additional authority to demolish unsafe buildings		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-23
S. 472	Incorporate Town of Wallburg
S. 475	Annex specified area to Dallas		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-279
S. 477	Authorize City of Durham housing appeals board to hear nuisance lot cases		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-51
S. 478	Authorize Durham and Monroe to provide annual notice for overgrown lot violators		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-77
S. 479	Authorize Durham County to levy impact tax for school	H. 633
S. 480	Clarify City of Durham authority re requiring sidewalks and fees for sidewalks
S. 482	Authorize City of Durham to annex streets bounded by city limits		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-26
S. 484	Authorize Durham County impact fee for schools	H. 632
S. 491	Incorporate Town of Northbrook	H. 777
S. 493	Authorize Carrboro inclusionary zoning
S. 494	Authorize Carrboro sprinkler requirement for specified types of buildings and Chapel Hill reservation of school sites in zoning approvals		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-237
S. 526	Allow cartway where access lost due to DOT road relocation
S. 534	Prohibit local government use of amortization of nonconforming buildings, structures, or signs without payment of just compensation	H. 429
S. 551	Allow specified nonprofit corporations to receive Clean Water Management Trust Fund grants	H. 738
S. 578	Create state income tax credit for downtown revitalization in midsize cities
S. 591	Disapprove Swift Creek reclassification	H.566 passed
S. 593	Extend swine farm moratorium to 9/1/07		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-266
S. 637	Require referenda for annexations
S. 671	Allow property held by homeowners association to qualify for use value assessments
S. 675	Establish professional development program for building code enforcement officials, including continuing education
S. 715	Revise local water supply planning requirements, allow state drought designations
S. 717	Governor's 2003-05 budget bill	H. 853
S. 723	Reinstate I-40 billboard moratoria
S. 722	Limit local government ordinances regulating American flag to size and location requirements related to public health and safety; limit restrictions in covenants and homeowners assoc. rules on display of American flag		Comm favorable	Passed
S. 725	Amend constitution to allow tax increment financing (local option project development financing)	H. 1293	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-403
S. 727	Allow use limitations to be considered in property tax assessments of low-income housing	S. 862
S. 819	Provide for sale of state properties in Blount St. historic district		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-404
S. 822	Limit impervious surfaces of parking lots to 50%
S. 824	Amend various environmental laws: Extend temporary rules re buffers in specified river basins; extend pilot inspection program re animal waste inspections		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-340
S. 859	Create Catawba River Basin Bi-state Advisory Commission			Passed
S. 861	Adopt International Building Code	H 856
S. 862	Allow use limitations to be considered in property tax assessments of low-income housing	S. 727
S. 864	Solar energy provisions, including clarification that local ordinances can require systems to conform to architectural standards of neighborhood			Passed
S. 884	Allow use value taxation for wildlife conservation areas
S. 908	Groundwater Protection Act
S. 913	Streamline state building code	H. 857
S. 914	Revise and clarify state laws on local planning, zoning, subdivision regulation, extraterritorial jurisdiction, development agreements, and intergovernmental coordination
S. 933	Require state and local governments acquiring land for wetland mitigation to reimburse county for reduced property taxes	H. 583
S. 944	Economic incentives (sales tax refunds for certain manufacturing plants)			Passed
S. 945	Allow site preparation work prior to receipt of air quality permit		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-428
S. 950	Open space preservation incentives	H. 887
S. 959	Monitor coastal water quality		Passed	Passed	S.L. 2003-149
S. 980	Tax credit for voluntary stormwater projects
S. 981	Establish clean air trust fund
S. 990	Extend swine farm moratoria
S. 996	Clarify purpose and scope of regulations on adult entertainment at facilities with ABC license		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-382
S. 999	Develop regional water supplies


H. 6	Set referendum to amend state constitution to prohibit state withholding of taxes collected for local governments
H. 11	Ban sexually explicit conduct in facilities with ABC licenses		Passed	Passed
H. 28	Amend constitution to limit sessions of General Assembly	S. 3
H. 29	Exempt Bladenboro from limits on area of satellite annexations		Passed
H. 30	Constitutional amendment to limit session lengths for General Assembly
H. 35	Exempt Waynesville from mailed notice requirements when entire jurisdiction is rezoned		Passed	Passed	S.L. 2003-3
H. 40	Amend constitution to limit sessions of General Assembly and provide for 4 year terms
H. 48	N.C. "Moving Ahead" transportation bill		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-383
H. 70	Repeal prior local act subdivision exemptions for Pender County		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-245
H. 124	Amend protest petition requirements for Durham (file four days prior to hearing)		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-83
H. 135	Annex specified territory in Roanoke Rapids	S. 106	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-7
H. 142	Allow Sunset Beach to use eminent domain for erosion control and beach access projects		Passed
H. 153	Allow Winston-Salem to provide annual notice to chronic violators of nuisance lots and allow remedial actions		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-120
H. 164	Clarify that S.L. 2003-241 does not affect Shelby annexations		Passed
H. 224	Annex specified property into Kannapolis		Passed
H. 232	Incorporate town of Mills River	S. 287	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-242
H. 249	Amend Wilmington charter to allow conditional zoning	Passed	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-162
H. 263	Authorize Lumberton to use demolition as remedy for unsafe residential buildings in CD target areas	S. 123 passed	Passed
H. 281	Technical Corrections Act		Passed	Passed	Conf.
H. 326	Annex specified land into Jonesville	S. 328	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-44
H. 397	2003-2005 Appropriations Act		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-284
H. 403	Require government regulations that substantially burden exercise of religion use the least restrictive means possible		Comm favorable
H 404	Limit restrictions on flags		Comm favorable
H. 429	Prohibit local government use of amortization of nonconforming buildings, structures, or signs without payment of just compensation	S. 534 {see H. 754}	Passed
H. 439	Amend cartway statute
H. 440	Exempt agricultural uses from zoning in Wentworth		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-330
H. 445	Allow two mile ETJ for Yanceyville
H. 466	Allow Greensboro to expend funds for state roads outside city limits	S. 291 H. 627
H. 467	Authorize Greensboro and Piedmont Triad Airport Administration to amend boundaries	H. 626 passed
H. 481	Authorize cities with populations over 200,000 to require repair rather than closing of dilapidated housing	H. 628
H 511	Allow Andrews to make additional satellite annexation of town owned property		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-243
H. 512	Allow nonresident members on Nags Head historic preservation commission		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-46
H. 515	Annex specified area in Chadbourne	S. 419 passed
H. 516	Authorize Rockingham, Statesville, Smithfield tree protection ordinances		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-246
H. 517	Authorize Holly Springs tree protection ordinance	S. 459	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-73
H. 542	Allow Oak Island, Sunset Beach, Bald Head condemnation for beach protection, erosion control, beach access and clarify title to condemned land for these and Caswell Beach, Ocean Isle Beach		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-282
H. 546	Amend boundaries of Caswell Beach
H. 566	Disapprove portion of rule reclassifying Swift Creek	S. 591	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-433
H. 571	Authorize Rocky Mount annual notice for nuisance lot violators		Passed
H. 583	Require state and local governments acquiring land for wetland mitigation to reimburse county for reduced property taxes	S. 933
H. 597	Deannex specified areas from Roanoke Rapids, Lumberton		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003- 271
H. 598	Annex specified area into Roanoke Rapids		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-200
H. 604	Provide that state ABC license does not override local zoning of location of facilities with ABC license
H. 610	Allow two mile ETJ for Rowland
H. 626	Authorize Greensboro and Piedmont Triad Airport Administration to amend boundaries	H. 467	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003- 202
H. 627	Allow Greensboro/Kernersville to expend funds for state roads outside city limits	S. 291, H. 466	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-132
H. 628	Authorize cities with populations over 200,000 to require repair rather than closing of dilapidated housing	H. 481
H. 632	Authorize Durham County impact fee for schools	S. 484
H. 633	Authorize Durham County to levy impact tax for school	S. 479
H. 645	Limit annexation into Currituck County by any municipality outside county		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-27
H. 650	Allow Durham to annex streets bounded by city
H. 664	Local option tax menu relative to sales, meals, occupancy, land transfers
H. 674	2003 Studies Act	S. 384	Passed	Passed	Conf.
H. 679	Authorize Raleigh to regulate clear-cutting and tree protection; allow Rutherfordton and Wake County buffer requirements		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-128
H. 685	Incorporate town of Sunset Harbor		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-317
H. 701	Allow Burlington annexation
H. 705	Annex remaining sphere of influence area into Matthews; Waxahaw annexation		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003- 273
H. 725	Deannex/annex specified areas for Conover, Claremont		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003- 244
H. 727	Clarify that Soil and Water Conservation Commission members can hold other offices		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-198
H. 728	Allow additional satellite annexations by Thomasville
H. 731	Allow additional satellite annexations by Stallings
H. 734	Allow Durham housing board to hear nuisance lot appeals	[See S. 477]	Passed
H. 735	Allow Durham to give annual notice to chronic violators of refuse and debris ordinance	S. 748	Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-133
H. 738	Allow specified nonprofit corporations to receive Clean Water Management Trust Fund grants	S. 551
H. 741	Allow agricultural signs in Brunswick and Columbus counties
H. 742	Annex specified area to Carolina Shores		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-78
H. 751	Annex area to Kitty Hawk and transfer specified state land to town		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-364
H. 754	Moratorium on new local ordinances amortizing outdoor advertising until 12/31/04		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-432
H. 757	Allow additional satellite annexations for Oak Island		Passed
H. 765	Amend subdivision definition for Chowan County		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-79
H. 771	Provide that interstate commercial zoning along I-95 in Halifax County constitutes commercial/industrial zoning for state sign regulation purposes
H. 773	Allow Chapel Hill sprinkler requirement for bars, restaurants		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003- 247
H. 774	Allow additional satellite annexations for Beaufort		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-204
H. 777	Incorporate Town of Northbrook	S. 491
H. 782	Allow satellite annexations by North Brunswick Sanitary District
H. 783	Require four votes for Burke County board of commissioners to repeal or amend overlay district for Lake James area		Comm favorable
H. 784	Allow Salisbury clear-cutting and tree protection regulations
H. 790	Incorporate village of Cashiers		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-75
H. 853	Governor's 2003-05 budget bill	S. 717
H. 856	Adopt international building code	S. 861
H. 857	Streamline building code	S. 913
H. 887	Open space preservation tax incentives	S 950
H. 953	Strengthen sedimentation control act
H. 984	Regulate use of amortization of nonconforming uses structures
H. 985	Sale of Blount St. properties	See S. 819
H. 1006	Facilitate treatment of manufactured housing as real estate and reform financing/sales practices		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-400
H. 1021	Require county approval of involuntary annexations
H. 1028	Allow temporary rule for CAMA general permit for certain bulkheads, codify prohibition of oceanfront erosion control structures		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-427
H. 1029	Repeal local act provision for supermajority of county board for zoning amendment
H. 1042	Authorize study of procedures for revocation of building permits		Comm favorable
H. 1062	Require certain community water systems to prepare local water supply plans and require DNER to establish drought management advisory committee		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-387
H. 1064	Clarify delegation of authority to cities and counties
H. 1073	Extend swine farm moratorium to 2005
H. 1151	Amend administrative rule-making process		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003- 229
H 1165	Study beach protection, restoration, and access issues		Comm. Favorable
H. 1188	Phase out swine lagoons
H. 1206	Consolidate environmental regulatory commissions
H. 1207	Legislative review/summaries for administrative rules		Passed
H. 1208	Extend swine moratorium to 2007
H. 1230	Allow rail corridors to be used as linear parks		Comm favorable
H. 1240	Increase fees in Bill Lee Act
H. 1241	Reform Bill Lee Act		Passed
H. 1280	Extend recapture period when property removed from use value taxation from three to five years
H. 1288	Expand historic structure tax credit
H. 1292	Target Bill Lee Act benefits to distressed counties		Passed
H. 1293	Amend constitution to allow tax increment financing	S. 725 passed
H. 1296	Increase fee for ABC facility in redevelopment areas
H. 1299	Establish fund for removal of junk and abandoned cars
H. 1301	Allow greater intergovernmental coordination on economic development projects		Passed	Passed	S. L. 2003-417
H. 1304	Establish advance disposal fee for manufactured housing
H. 1314	Establish brownfields property tax exclusion for CDC redevelopment projects
H. 1318	Modernize Bill Lee Act		Comm favorable
H. 1323	Increase CAMA permit fees		Passed
H. 1324	Increase various environmental fees to reflect full costs incurred
H. 1335	Adjournment resolution		Passed	Passed	Res. 2003-31