North Carolina HB 559: Elevators/Interim Code Council Appointment.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2025-63
HOUSE BILL 559

*H559-v-6*
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS FEE MODIFICATIONS TO THE STATE LABOR
REGULATIONS, AND TO AMEND INTERIM APPOINTMENT CRITERIA FOR THE
BUILDING CODE COUNCIL AND RESIDENTIAL CODE COUNCIL.

Whereas, the North Carolina Department of Labor's Elevator and Amusement Device
Bureau is a fully receipt-supported operation that receives no State appropriations and is currently
facing a backlog of over 3,000 overdue inspections and critical staffing shortages, particularly in
North Carolina's fast-growing urban regions; and
Whereas, outdated statutory fee caps have constrained the Department's ability to
modernize operations, attract qualified inspectors, and deliver timely inspections; and
Whereas, authorizing modest, common-sense fee adjustments will empower the
Department to eliminate the inspection backlog, raise inspector pay to market rates, and launch
an in-house apprenticeship program to train the next generation of safety professionals; and
Whereas, this Act ensures that all fee increases remain capped, transparent, and tied
to inflation, while keeping the Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau fully receipt-supported,
free from new taxpayer burdens, and operated with the accountability and efficiency of a small
business; and
Whereas, it is in North Carolina's best interest to modernize the Department in a way
that is accountable, fiscally responsible, and tailored to the needs of our fast-growing State; Now,
therefore,

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

PART I. FEE MODIFICATIONS
SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 95-107 reads as rewritten:
"§ 95-107. Assessment and collection of fees; certificates of safe operation.
The assessment of the fees adopted by the Commissioner pursuant to G.S. 95-69.11,
95-110.5, 95-111.4 95-110.5A, 95-111.4A, and 95-120 95-120A shall be made against the owner
or operator of the equipment and may be collected at the time of inspection. If the fees are not
collected at the time of inspection, the Department must bill the owner or operator of the
equipment for the amount of the fee assessed for the inspection of the equipment and the amount
assessed is payable by the owner or operator of the equipment upon receipt of the bill. Certificates
of safe operation may be withheld by the Department of Labor until such time as the assessed
fees are collected."
SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 95-108 reads as rewritten:
"§ 95-108. Disposition of fees.
All fees collected by the Department of Labor pursuant to G.S. 95-69.11, 95-110.5, 95-111.4
95-110.5A, 95-111.4A, and 95-120 95-120A shall be deposited with the State Treasurer and shall
be used exclusively for inspection inspection, permitting, and certification purposes. Fees
deposited pursuant to this section that have not been expended or encumbered at the end of the
fiscal year shall not revert but shall remain available for uses consistent with this section."
SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 95-110.5(20) is repealed.

Page 2 Session Law 2025-63 House Bill 559
SECTION 1.(d) Article 14A of Chapter 95 of the General Statutes is amended by
adding a new section to read:
"§ 95-110.5A. Fees.
(a) Beginning July 1, 2025, the Department shall charge fees not to exceed the following:
Special Inspection Fee – Expedited $1,000
Temporary Limited Certificate for Construction Use Only; Less than 10 Floors $200.00
Temporary Limited Certificate for Construction Use Only; 10 or More Floors $300.00
Reinspection Fee of Failed New and Repair/Alteration Inspections $1,000
Routine/Annual Elevator Inspections; Less than 10 Floors $200.00
Routine/Annual Elevator Inspections; 10 or More Floors $300.00
Routine/Annual Wheelchair Lift and Dumbwaiter Inspections $100.00
Routine/Annual Escalator and Moving Walk Inspections $500.00
(b) Upon application to the Department for a new or alteration construction permit for a
device subject to this section, an applicant shall submit a permit application fee. The amount of
the permit application fee shall be the greater of (i) two hundred dollars ($200.00) or (ii) one
percent (1%) of the contract price for the alteration or installation of the device being permitted.
(c) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, for fiscal years beginning on or
after July 1, 2026, the Department shall adjust the fee amounts listed in subsection (a) of this
section in accordance with the percent change in the annual Consumer Price Index computed by
the Bureau of Labor Statistics using the most recent 12-month period for which data is available.
The adjustment for fees under this subsection shall be rounded to the nearest dollar ($1.00), and
the Commissioner shall publish any increase in fees under this subsection in the North Carolina
Register and on the Department's website at least 60 days prior to any increase."
SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 95-111.4(19) is repealed.
SECTION 1.(f) Article 14B of Chapter 95 of the General Statutes is amended by
adding a new section to read:
"§ 95-111.4A. Fees.
(