2024 Bldg. Code Regulatory Reform.

This bill amends North Carolina's building and environmental codes to limit when public water systems can require customers to install backflow preventers and to reduce the frequency of required testing for residential irrigation systems. It specifically prohibits local governments from mandating these devices on existing connections unless a high hazard is officially determined by the state Department of Environmental Quality, and it shields water system employees from civil liability if they follow these new rules. Additionally, the legislation bans the requirement for redundant inline shut-off valves between a water meter and a residential dwelling, while allowing exceptions for valves integrated into meter boxes or installed as main shutoffs near entrances. The changes also clarify that increases in water flow alone do not necessitate a backflow preventer and establish a three-year maximum testing interval for residential irrigation systems that do not use chemical feeds.