This bill establishes a $200 million fund to help community colleges create training programs for high-demand construction trades like plumbing, electrical work, and carpentry. It also creates a $100 million grant program that will provide up to $5 million to construction material producers who invest at least $10 million in the state and create 250 jobs. Additionally, the bill requires state building code councils to update regulations to allow the use of specific cement substitutes and provides funding for local governments to set up digital permitting systems. These measures aim to address labor and material shortages in the construction industry by expanding the workforce, encouraging local manufacturing, and modernizing administrative processes.
HB 1056 aims to increase housing supply in North Carolina by allowing residential construction in commercial zones and banning minimum parking requirements for new developments. The bill also creates a state program to reimburse local governments for costs associated with speeding up housing permit reviews and provides additional funding to the state housing finance agency. These measures are designed to reduce regulatory barriers that currently limit the number of homes being built and help address rising housing costs.
SB 95 allows small North Carolina sawmills (producing under 1 million board feet annually) to sell ungraded lumber for use in one- and two-family homes and certain residential structures, directly affecting small sawmill operators and homebuilders. The bill requires sawmill operators to complete state-approved training, mark lumber with specific details (species, mill ID, PS20 compliance), and provide buyers with a compliance certificate. It modifies building codes to permit this ungraded lumber use while mandating code officials review structures for safety but absolving them of liability for failures related to the lumber type. The policy change aims to support small sawmills by expanding their market access under defined safety and transparency conditions.
SB 492 allows single-exit stairways in certain multifamily residential buildings (5-32 units, under 75 feet tall, on one lot) that meet strict fire safety standards. It applies to qualifying "Group R-2" buildings, requiring either 2-hour fire-rated construction with sprinklers (mid-rise) or 1-hour fire-rated construction/sprinklers (low-rise), plus specific egress requirements like 20-foot travel distance to the stairway and pressurized stairwells. The bill temporarily permits this change until the Building Code Council adopts permanent rules, which must align with these provisions. It directly affects developers and builders constructing qualifying mid-rise or low-rise apartment buildings in North Carolina. The law does not apply to three- or four-family homes or buildings exceeding the specified height or unit limits.
SB 184 allows North Carolina local governments to exempt properties being developed for affordable housing from system development fees (such as those for water and sewer infrastructure). It requires local units to establish their own criteria for determining which housing projects qualify as "affordable" for the exemption. The bill does not change existing fee structures but gives localities flexibility to support affordable housing development. This directly affects developers building affordable housing projects and local governments that set these fees.
HB 458 requires migrant housing operators in North Carolina to request preoccupancy inspections 45 days before housing is occupied, ensuring compliance with safety and health standards like clean water, structural safety, and pest control. It directly affects housing operators (who own or manage migrant housing) and state agencies like the Department of Labor and local health departments. Key provisions include mandatory inspections before occupancy, a two-year perfect-compliance option for operators to self-inspect, and strict timelines for correcting deficiencies. The bill focuses on concrete enforcement mechanisms rather than policy outcomes, updating existing regulations to strengthen housing oversight for agricultural workers.
SB 495 requires North Carolina local governments to permit at least one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per single-family residential lot, defined as a smaller secondary home (under 800 sq ft) attached or detached from the main house. It prohibits local governments from banning long-term rentals of ADUs, imposing extra parking requirements, charging higher fees than standard permits, or restricting utility connections. Local governments must adopt implementing regulations by January 1, 2027, or ADUs will be allowed without restrictions. The bill excludes historic districts, National Historic Landmarks, and properties with private covenants restricting dwelling types.
SB 497 requires all North Carolina local governments to allow "middle housing" types - including duplexes, fourplexes, townhouses, and similar multi-unit structures - in every residentially zoned area, including zones currently permitting only single-family homes. It prohibits local governments from blocking these housing types through excessive regulations, such as requiring public hearings, restricting building height to less than three stories, or mandating commercial building codes or fire sprinklers. The law also prevents restrictions on long-term rentals and private parking arrangements, while exempting historic districts and requiring existing municipal infrastructure (water/sewer systems) to be available. Local governments must use the same permitting processes for middle housing as for single-family homes, with an 18-month implementation deadline. This bill aims to increase housing options and affordability by expanding where multi-unit housing can be developed without changing zoning maps.
