North Carolina HB 661: Funds/NC Policy Collaboratory.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 4
HOUSE BILL 661
Committee Substitute Favorable 4/10/25
Committee Substitute #2 Favorable 6/17/25
Fourth Edition Engrossed 6/18/25

Short Title: Building Industry Efficiency Act of 2025. (Public)
Sponsors:
Referred to:
April 2, 2025
*H661-v-4*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND VARIOUS LAWS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL BUILDING 2
INDUSTRY EFFICIENCY. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
5
PART I. LOCAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSTRUCTION REGULATION 6
7
PROHIBIT INSPECTION DEPARTMENTS FROM CHARGING FEES FOR CERTAIN 8
INSPECTION CANCELLATIONS 9
SECTION 1.1. G.S. 160D-1104 is amended by adding a new subsection to read: 10
"(d2) An inspection department shall not charge the permit holder a fee or fail an inspection 11
of a building or structure subject to the North Carolina Residential Code, if the permit holder 12
cancels a scheduled inspection more than one business day before the scheduled inspection." 13
14
LIMIT DESIGN METHODOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR 15
CERTAIN MUNICIPAL STREETS 16
SECTION 1.2.(a) Article 15 of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes is amended by 17
adding a new section to read: 18
"§ 160D-1502. Limit street design methodology and construction standards for certain 19
municipal streets. 20
Notwithstanding G.S. 136-66.4, municipalities shall not implement design methodology and 21
construction standards for new streets and highways to be accepted by a municipality, utilizing 22
funds that are not wholly municipal funds, that are more stringent than design methodology and 23
construction standards utilized by the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Nothing in 24
this section limits the authority of the North Carolina Department of Transportation to regulate 25
street connections to a public system as authorized by law." 26
SECTION 1.2.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2026, and applies to 27
projects initiated on or after that date. 28
29
LIMIT DESIGN METHODOLOGY AND CONSTRUCTION STANDARDS FOR 30
CERTAIN PRIVATE STREETS 31
SECTION 1.3.(a) Article 15 of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes is amended by 32
adding a new section to read: 33

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 661-Fourth Edition
"§ 160D-1503. Limit street design methodology and construction standards for certain 1
private streets. 2
Municipalities shall not implement design methodology and construction standards for new 3
streets designated as private, and intended to remain privately owned after construction, that are 4
more stringent than design methodology and construction standards utilized by the North 5
Carolina Department of Transportation. Notwithstanding any design methodology and 6
construction standards implemented by the municipality, the municipality must accept 7
engineered street design methodology and construction standards that do not meet minimum 8
standards utilized by the North Carolina Department of Transportation if the engineered street 9
design methodology and construction standards are signed and sealed by a duly licensed 10
professional engineer, under Chapter 89C of the General Statutes, and meet vehicular traffic and 11
fire apparatus access requirements. If engineered street design methodology and construction 12
standards do not meet minimum standards utilized by the North Carolina Department of 13
Transportation, the developer must include disclosures to prospective buyers as outlined in 14
G.S. 136-102.6(f) prior to entering into any agreement or any conveyance with any prospective 15
buyer. A local government is discharged and released from any liabilities, duties, and 16
responsibilities imposed by this Chapter, or in common law, from any claim arising out of, or 17
attributed to, the plan review or acceptance of signed and sealed engineered street design 18
methodology and construction standards submitted pursuant to this section. Nothing in this 19
section limits the authority of local governments or the North Carolina Department of 20
Transportation to regulate private road, driveway, or street connection to a public system, or to 21
regulate transportation and utilities as otherwise authorized by law." 22
SECTION 1.3.(b) This section becomes effective January 1, 2026, and applies to 23
projects initiated on or after that date. 24
25
LOCAL GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR PEDESTRIAN FACILITIES AND 26
ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS IN EXTRATERRITORIAL JURISDICTION 27
SECTION 1.4.(a) Article 15 of Chapter 160D of the General Statutes is amended by 28
adding a new section to read: 29
"§ 160D-1504. Local government requirements for pedestrian facilities and roadway 30
improvements within extraterritorial jurisdiction. 31
A local government that requires a developer to construct pedestrian facilities or roadway 32
improvements, which include improvements within public right-of-way located outside of a 33
construction project boundary, to standards or with attributes which would preclude a pedestria