Land Use Clarification and Changes.
SB 493 proposes several changes to land use regulations in North Carolina. The bill allows public schools to be located in areas zoned for commercial use, either by right or through a special use permit. It also eliminates the authority for cities to exercise planning and development regulation outside their corporate limits, known as extraterritorial jurisdiction. Furthermore, the bill clarifies that establishing one type of vested right on a property does not eliminate other existing use rights, and it sets limits on conditions local governments can impose for special use permits.
Bill status
passed
3 of 5 stages cleared
Introduction
Mar 2025
Committee Review
May 2025
Senate Passage
May 2025
House Passage
Governor
Introduced Mar 25, 2025
Last action May 6, 2025
Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons
What changed between versions
A1: AST-9-V-1
→
Edition 1
·
4 edits
MODERATE
This bill clarifies land use rules in North Carolina by allowing schools to be built in commercial zones, protecting existing property development rights from being revoked by new regulations, and establishing a process for resolving jurisdiction disputes when land spans multiple local governments.
Scope change
The bill expands the scope of permitted land uses by explicitly allowing public schools in commercial zones and clarifies that existing development rights cannot be extinguished by subsequent regulatory changes.
ELIGIBILITY
Added new provision allowing public school buildings to be sited in areas zoned for commercial use, either by right or through special use permit.
ENFORCEMENT
Modified G.S. 160D-108 to clarify that existing vested development rights cannot be changed, altered, or impaired by new local government regulations once established.
REQUIREMENT
Added new section clarifying that special use permits cannot include unauthorized requirements such as taxes, impact fees, or building design elements beyond local government authority.
TECHNICAL
Modified G.S. 160D-203 to clarify the split jurisdiction process for land spanning multiple local governments, including a 14-day timeline for recording mutual agreements.
Floor votes · Senate May 6, 2025
How they voted
45–1
Passed · 5 other
Total votes 51
May 6, 2025
D
Democratic20
80% Yea
R
Republican31
93% Yea
Vote distribution
All Yea
All Nay
Mixed
No data
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
17
Key actions
4
Committee
7
Amendments
1
May 6, 2025
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
lower
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Passed 3rd Reading
upper
May 6, 2025
Upper · Passed
Amend Adopted A1
upper
May 5, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reptd Fav
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Committee
Re-ref Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Apr 29, 2025
Upper · Passed
Reptd Fav
upper
Apr 28, 2025
Committee
Sequential Referral To Finance Stricken
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
Re-ref to Judiciary. If fav, re-ref to Finance. If fav, re-ref to Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Mar 26, 2025
Committee
Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate
upper
Mar 25, 2025
Introduced
Filed
upper
2 primary · 1 co-sponsor
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Michael Lee
RRepublican
P
Tim Moffitt
RRepublican
Co
Brad Overcash
RRepublican
Ask Maddy
·
AI policy assistant
Ask Maddy about SB 493
Scope: NC
Hi! I can help you understand SB 493. What would you like to know?
Try one of these
i
Maddy answers using official bill text and legislative records. Always verify before sharing.
Sources cited inline