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.
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 323 modifies zoning rules for Cornelius, Davidson, and Huntersville by requiring written consent from all property owners affected by down-zoning changes, unless the local government initiates the change. Down-zoning is defined as reducing land development density, limiting permitted uses, or creating nonconformities (e.g., nonconforming structures). The law applies exclusively to these three towns and takes effect upon enactment, with retroactive application to December 11, 2024. This policy change directly affects property owners in these municipalities by giving them a veto over zoning shifts that reduce their land's development potential.
SB 688 amends North Carolina's local government planning and development laws, directly affecting cities and counties by limiting their zoning authority. It prohibits local governments from regulating specific building design elements (like exterior colors, roof styles, or window placement) except in historic districts or for safety code compliance. The bill also bans minimum building size requirements for residential properties, overly large parking space standards (beyond ADA requirements), and unnecessary road design rules. All changes take effect January 1, 2026, making inconsistent local ordinances void.
SB 137 requires written consent from all property owners for any zoning change that reduces development density or permitted land uses (down-zoning), except when local governments initiate down-zoning specifically for farmland preservation. It directly affects property owners in Henderson County and specific towns within the county (Fletcher, Mills River, Flat Rock, Laurel Park, and Saluda) by giving them veto power over most down-zoning proposals. The key mechanism is the consent requirement, with the exception allowing local governments to protect farmland without owner approval. This bill applies retroactively to January 31, 2025, and modifies existing zoning law to prioritize property owner consent in zoning decisions.
SB 473 creates the Capital for Communities Special Fund, a dedicated state fund that will receive 3.5% of certain investment earnings (when quarterly returns exceed 7%) from state funds managed by the Treasurer. The fund will provide grants for economic development projects in North Carolina, specifically targeting affordable housing, childcare centers, healthcare facilities addressing shortages, medical research, workforce development, living-wage jobs, and nonprofit education facilities. These grants must directly support community-based initiatives meeting the specified criteria. The bill establishes clear eligibility rules for fund usage but does not detail application processes or allocation priorities.
