This bill directs $34.88 million in state funds to three North Carolina entities for the 2026-2027 fiscal year to support emergency services, public safety, and affordable housing. The Town of Davidson receives $20.44 million to build a fire station, buy an emergency vehicle, and purchase police and breathing apparatus equipment. The Town of Cornelius is allocated $10 million for land acquisition for a future public safety facility, replacing a fire engine, improving pedestrian safety, and constructing a recreation center. Additionally, the Lake Norman Community Development Corporation gets $4 million to develop affordable housing in Cornelius, including specific funding for the Smithville community. These nonrecurring funds are scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026.
This bill creates a new loan program in North Carolina to help nonprofit organizations prepare land for affordable housing by offering below-market interest rate loans. The funds, totaling $50 million for the 2026-2027 fiscal year, can only be used for site-related expenses like land acquisition, utility installation, and environmental testing, but not for building the actual homes. To qualify, borrowers must be experienced nonprofits that provide zero-interest mortgages to buyers and ensure at least 40% of units in mixed-income projects are reserved for low- and moderate-income families. The program is designed to support the development of housing for households earning up to 80% of the local area median income.
This bill allocates $4 million from the state's General Fund to the Lake Norman Community Development Corporation for the 2026-2027 fiscal year. The funding is divided equally, with $2 million designated for the Smithville Revitalization Plan to acquire property and build affordable homes, and another $2 million for additional affordable housing projects determined by the Corporation. Up to 15% of the total appropriation may be used for administrative expenses, and the funds become available starting July 1, 2026.
This bill grants the City of Winston-Salem the authority to exempt or reduce system development fees for affordable housing projects. Under the new rules, the city must establish its own specific criteria to determine which developments qualify for these financial incentives. The legislation applies only to Winston-Salem and allows the local government to lower costs for water or sewer services for qualifying affordable housing builders.
This bill creates a new cabinet-level Department of Housing and Community Development in North Carolina to consolidate housing and community development functions. The department will be organized into four divisions: Operations, Community Development, Housing, and a Policy and Legislative Office, each with specific duties such as managing broadband expansion, overseeing disaster resilience, and certifying building officials. A nine-member advisory board will be established to guide the department, with members appointed by the Governor and state legislative leaders. Starting in the 2026-2027 fiscal year, the state will allocate $30 million in recurring funds to support the department's operations.
This bill restores the ability of local governments in Craven, Carteret, Onslow, Jones, and Lenoir counties to propose down-zoning changes without needing permission from every property owner. Previously, a law required unanimous consent from all affected landowners to reduce development density or limit permitted uses, but this legislation removes that requirement for these specific military host counties. The change applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, meaning any down-zoning efforts initiated after that date can proceed under the new rules.
HB 68 restores local government authority to initiate down-zoning in Granville and Vance Counties without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. It amends state law to clarify that down-zoning (reducing development density or permitted land uses) can be initiated by local governments, overriding a previous requirement for unanimous owner consent. This change applies specifically to Granville and Vance Counties and their municipalities, and takes effect retroactively to December 11, 2024, making any affected ordinances valid as if they had always been enforceable. The bill directly affects property owners in these counties and local governments' zoning planning powers.
SB 388 establishes strict time limits for North Carolina's Department of Transportation (DOT) to review certain permits, including driveway, encroachment, and subdivision permits. It requires the DOT to notify applicants within 10 business days whether an application is complete or incomplete, and if complete, to issue or deny the permit within 30 calendar days. If the DOT misses these deadlines, the permit is automatically approved. This directly affects property owners, contractors, and developers applying for these specific transportation-related permits. The bill aims to streamline the process by creating clear, enforceable timelines.
HB 281 restores local government authority to initiate "down-zoning" in six North Carolina municipalities (Morehead City, Beaufort, Bogue, Cape Carteret, Cedar Point, and Newport) without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. The bill amends state law to clarify that down-zoning - defined as reducing development density, limiting permitted land uses, or creating nonconforming features - can be enacted by a municipality itself. This reverses a prior change (S.L. 2024-57) that required property owner consent, making the new rule retroactive to December 11, 2024. The law directly affects property owners and developers in these specific towns by changing how zoning changes can be implemented.
SB 65 restores Buncombe County's authority to initiate down-zoning without requiring written consent from all affected property owners. This bill specifically applies to Buncombe County and its municipalities, reversing a previous law (S.L. 2024-57) that mandated such consent. The key change allows local governments to adjust zoning maps or regulations to reduce development density, limit permitted land uses, or create nonconformities without property owner approval. The law applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, restoring pre-existing zoning authority for affected ordinances.
