UPDATED: THROUGH: 10/25/2023
School of Government
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The following is a list of bills related to planning, land use regulation, environment, transportation, and similar matters addressed in 2023. The introduction deadline for bills other than appropriations and finance has passed. Bills generally were required to pass the chamber in which it was introduced by May 4, 2023 in order to be further considered in 2023 or 2024.
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 has been reported out of a committee with a favorable recommendation, but no floor action was taken.
- "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 General Assembly approval, pending action by Governor
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, 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 | Title/Short Description | House Action | Senate Action | Session Law |
H. 5 | Remove cap on satellite annexation for Archdale; annex land to Asheboro and High Point; deannex land from Asheville, Boiling Springs Lake, Fuqua-Varina, and Summerfield; limit ETJ for specified areas for Boiling Springs Lake and Summerfiled | Passed | Passed. | Conf. |
H. 54 | Require Dept. of Commerce to establish website to track local planning, zoning, and land use regulations, partner with counties on residential site selection, translate building code into Spanish |
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H. 79 | Allow Carolina Beach to regulate navigable waters |
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H. 130 | Decommissioning requirements for utility scale solar facilities | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-58 |
H. 132 | Require delivery of permits by mail or delivery service | Passed |
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H. 184 | Eliminate ETJ, limit use of development moratoria, and expand limit on down-zoning for Maggie Valley | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-99 |
H. 198 | Various changes in NCDOT statutes, including expansion of permissible vegetation clearing for billboard permits | Passed |
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H. 242 | Allow adoption of ordinances by popular initiative in Wrightsville Beach | Passed |
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H. 245 | Deannex specified property from Raleigh |
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Amend G.S. 160D-203 to facilitate allowing a single jurisdiction to have sole development regulation jurisdiction for multiple parcels subject to multiple jurisdictions’ development regulations | Passed |
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2023-25 Budget Act, includes provisions that: limit local regulation of disposable plastic bags (Sec. 5.9); limit denial of erosion and sedimentation control permits solely on need to obtain other permits or approvals (Sec. 12.10); exempt state buildings in Wake County from local development regulations (sec. 20.5); exempt new construction for specified affordable housing in Dare County from local zoning and subdivision regulation and require utility connnections under specified conditions (Sec. 24.8) | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-134 | |
H. 265 | Amend GS 160A-311.1 to give cities same authority as counties regarding demolition and retrofitting flood prone buildings (=S. 76) |
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H. 266 | Allow exemption from system development fees for affordable housing projects (=S. 163) |
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H. 267 | Deannex specified area from Holly Springs. moratorium on annexation by Leland | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-100 |
H. 272 | Expand authority for use of electronic hearing notices to additional Wake County municipalities |
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H. 285 | Remove cap on satellite annexations for Archdale | Passed |
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H. 290 | Incentives for donation of land for various conservation purposes |
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H. 294 | Establish grant program to assist local governments providing housing opportunities (ADUs, missing middle, and multifamily housing) |
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H. 300 | Allow Rockingham County and its municipalities to publish hearing notices electronically | Comm. fav |
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H. 310 | Allow local governments to select form of performance guarantees |
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H. 318 | Amend state building code to require one- and two-family dwellings to include circuits for electric vehicle charging |
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H. 320 | Provide for certified building code permit tech positions (=S. 712) |
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H. 324 | Allow Durham City and County and Matthews to provide electronic notice of public hearings (=S. 235) | Comm. fav. |
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H. 332 | Expedite review of sealed building permit applications for commercial and multifamily structures (decisions generally within 21 business days) (=S. 275) | Passed |
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Require that one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) be allowed for any one- or two-family housing unit. Limit parking, owner-occupancy of ADU, and conditional zoning requirements for ADUs; limits restriction on utility connections if sufficient capacity for both units. Does not apply in historic districts or to landmark structures (=S. 374) | Passed |
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| H. 416 | Add environmental justice review provisions for various state environmental permits | |||
H. 435 | Authorize Carolina Beach to required bulkheads | |||
H. 449 | Authorize specified towns to removed abandoned vessels from navigable waters | Passed | ||
H. 458 | Authorize vote on constitutional amendment to prohibit use of eminent domain except for public uses | |||
H. 459 | Deannex S. Reynolds airport from Winston-Salem | |||
| H. 462 | Deannex airport from Washington | Passed | ||
H. 466 | Allow use of temporary dwelling units during construction of permanent residential building (not to include RV or manufactured home) | Passed | ||
Require that zoning regulations allow use of small houses (800 sq. ft. or less) on property zoned for residential or mixed use |
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| H. 488 | Create Residential Code Council to handle residential building code; raise from cap $20,000 to $40,000 for work not requiring a permit; require only one building permit for property at same address; prevent use of subdivision standards more stringent than NCDOT road standards for private roads; limit exterior sheaving inspections outside high wind zones; prohibit local exterior sheaving standards; amend insulation requirements; set maximum fee for local sedimentation permits; various provisions on stormwater and utility connection requirements | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-108 |
| H. 511 | Limit stormwater requirements for preexisting development or development of property with small-scale residential development (single-family and up to four-unit multiunit housing) | Comm. fav. | ||
| H. 537 | Various provisions to increase workforce housing, including requirement that local governments permit mulitfamily housing by right in specified business zoning districts; prohibit application of design standards to these multifamily projects | |||
| H. 551 | Prohibit discrimination against renters based on receipt of federal housing assistance; prohibit ban on keeping service or support animal by renter (=S. 553) | |||
| H. 562 | Make workforce housing a permitted use in all zoning districts (workforce housing defined to be developments of at least 10 acres with at least 20% of units being single-family, and at least 50% of units conveyed to owner-occupants at 80% or lower area median income). Prohibit vegetation protection other than 20-foot vegetated buffer. Limit fees to $100 and prohibit impact fee or utility system development fee. Limit other development standards relative to lot width, setbacks, density, and design. | |||
| H. 579 | Revise sedimentation and erosion control program | Passed | ||
| H. 595 | Modify provisions for periodic inspections of rental properties | Comm. fav. | ||
| H. 600 | Regulatory reform, including various amendments to stormwater rules, prohibit zoning or subdivision regulations from residential subdivisions to have more entrances than required by state fire code, require policies in local CAMA plans to be written, prohibit time limits on dredging permits other than those required by federal law | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-137 |
| H. 603 | Set zoning requirements for temporary event venues for cities with populations over 100,000 (permissible accessory use in any zoning district, no SUP allowed, up to 24 events per year, permit not considered a zoning map amendment) | Passed | ||
| H. 628 | Various revisions to environmental regulations, including for on-site waste disposal, utility connections, stormwater programs (including removal of authority for financial assurances for stormwater system maintenance, repair, replacement), limit withholding building permits based on waste disposal issues | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-90 |
| H. 645 | Authorize use of inclusionary zoning provisions in local zoning | |||
| H. 659 | Phase out use of hog waste lagoons by 9/1/27 | |||
| H. 673 | Revise criminal provisions for adult entertainment, including prohibition of male or female impersonators whose performance appeals to a prurient interest | |||
| H. 689 | Establish expanded environmental justice policy and program | |||
| H. 717 | Study MPOs | Passed | ||
| H. 771 | Prohibit requirement that nonconforming on-premise signs be brought into compliance with sign regulations unless compensation paid | Comm. fav. | ||
| H. 782 | Modify building code exemption for temporary movie set buildings | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-91 |
| H. 785 | Limit building code requirements for automatic sprinkler systems in residential dwellings | |||
| H. 797 | Increase protection for burdened communities in environmental permitting | |||
| H. 857 | Allow annual notice to chronic violators of nuisance and overgrown lot ordinances on a rolling 12-month basis | |||
| H. 893 | Authorize program for private inspection of commercial building code projects | Passed | ||
S.68 | Remove cap on satellite annexation for Asheboro; annex land to Asheboro; prohibit HOA regulation of flags of armed services or first responders in Union Co. | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-143 |
S. 76 | Amend GS 160A-311.1 to give cities same authority as counties regarding demolition and retrofitting flood prone buildings (=H. 265) |
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S. 79 | Prohibit annexations by Leland except voluntary petitions made prior to 3/1/23 | Comm. fav. | ||
S. 132 | Annex ROW into High Point | Passed | Passed | |
S. 143 | Limit moratoria on commercial development permits in Pinehurst to require four hearings and limit duration to a single 60-day period |
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S. 163 | Allow exemption from system development fees for affordable housing projects (=H. 266) |
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S. 166 | Prohibit local water system requirement for back-flow control unless required by state or federal law | Passed | ||
S. 167 | Make discrimination based on source of income a state Fair Housing Act violation |
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S. 169 | Amend process for zoning satellite annexed areas in Davidson County | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-118 |
S. 200 | Allow Onslow County to publish hearing notices electronically |
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S. 211 | Allow utility authority to include jurisdictions in adjacent states |
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S. 214 | Allow immediate housing inspections where there is a potential safety threat |
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S. 225 | Allow local governments to enact rent control |
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S. 235 | Authorize Durham City and County to provide electronic notice of public hearings (=H. 324) |
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S. 240 | Allow specified airport authority to elect to be covered by local erosion and sedimentation control program | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-53 |
S. 241 | Allow design controls for development along Highway 115 in Davidson |
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S. 242 | Allow greater regulation of demolition of historic structures in Davidson |
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S. 243 | Clarify Davidson authority for expedited plat reviews |
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S. 256 | Prohibit use of harmony standard for approval of multifamily housing that has at least 10% affordable housing in Huntersville |
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S. 264 | Remove exemption from subdivision regulation for Davidson historic district |
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S. 275 | Expedite review of sealed building permit applications for commercial and multifamily structures (decisions generally within 21 days) (H. 332) |
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S. 279 | Allow Durham County to provide employee housing |
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S. 290 | Clarify that local governments can regulate maximum occupancy for short term rental of residential property |
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Exempt defined “workforce housing” from vegetation requirements (other than 20’ buffer), from zoning regulations regarding lot width, setbacks, density, or building design |
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Expand provision for single jurisdiction regulation of lots split into multiple jurisdictions, with owner allowed to select jurisdiction if not mutual agreement between jurisdictions | ||||
Require that one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) be allowed for any one- or two-family housing unit. Limit parking, owner-occupancy, or conditional zoning requirements for ADUs (=H. 409)) |
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| S. 463 | Modify licensing and examination provisions for building code enforcement officials | |||
| S. 465 | Authorize cities to remove abandoned vessels in navigable waters within their jurisdiction | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-27 |
| S. 512 | Increase legislative appointments to various state boards and commissions, including Board of Transportation, EMC, CRC and change appointment authority from Governor to specified cabinet member for others | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-136 |
| S. 515 | Limit differential in utility fees charged to properties outside a municipality's jurisdiction | |||
| S. 519 | Limit property tax increases attributable solely to zoning classification unless authorized use is actually established | |||
| S. 549 | Limit renewal or extension of local development moratoria for projects needed to address scheduled NCDOT projects | Passed | ||
| S. 553 | Prohibit discrimination against renters based on receipt of federal housing assistance; prohibit ban on keeping service or support animal by renter (=H. 551)) | |||
| S. 568 | Create state Dept. of Housing and Community Development | |||
| S. 580 | Various changes related to NCDOT, including modification of provisions on vegetative buffer removal for outdoor advertising | |||
| S. 582 | 2023 Farm Bill, including provisions revising sedimentation control measures, require wetland protection be limited to "waters of the United States" as defined by federal rules, adds biofuel production to definition of agricultural uses | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-63 |
| S. 613 | Require 25-foot vegetated buffer between designated trout waters and agriculturally related land disturbing activity | Passed | ||
| S. 667 | Regulate short term rentals of residential property, including requirement that cities may not prohibit STR use in any residential property, may not prohibit use of ADU for STR, may not limit number of nights of STR, may require owner to occupy the property, may not classify STR as commercial use. Cities may require permit, may limit number of occupants, may limit parking to one apace per bedroom, may limit to residential zoning districts, prohibit use of STR for any purpose other than that allowed in motels and hotels, require owner of operator be within 50-mile radius of STR | |||
| S. 669 | Set decommissioning standards for utility-scale solar projects (2 MGW or larger), require DEQ approval of decommissioning plan (which may be delegated to local government) | Comm. fav. | ||
| S. 673 | Clarify system development fees | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-55 |
| S. 675 | Eliminate municipal extraterritorial planning and development regulation jurisdiction in counties with populations under 25,000 on 10/1/24 and counties with populations of 25,001 to 50,000 on 10/1/25; allow schools by right or with SUP in all commercial zoning districts; clarify that SUP does not preclude uses by right on the property and that existing zoning applies if SUP expires | |||
| S. 677 | Create GS 160D-1110.1 re building permits for commercial and multi-family buildings, including setting time lines for permit review, independent third-party reviews, limited vested rights; limit consideration of other permits required in local erosion and seditmentation control plan review | Passed | Passed | S.L. 2023-142 |
| S. 684 | Revise stormwater rules, including requirement to decide applications within 90 processing days, with permit deemed approved if not action within 120 processing days, set timelines for stream origination determination and water quality certifications (60 days), erosion and sedimentation control (30 days) and CAMA permits (75 days). Allow suspension of clock if application is incomplete | |||
| S. 686 | Regulatory reform, including modificatons regarding stormwater vegetative buffers, redevelopment density for stormwater controls, wetlands definition | |||
| S. 692 | Create GS 160D-913.1 to make schools a permitted use in residential districts in some counties with popultion over 200,00; Create GS 160D-917 to make public schools a permissible use in commercial zoning districts | Passed | Passed | |
| S. 697 | Impose ten-year moratorium on processing permits for off-shore wind energy facilities | |||
| S. 712 | Provide for certified building code permit tech positions (=H.320) | |||
| S. 744 | Set permit processing deadlines for various environmental permits | |||
