North Carolina HB 963: Code Enforcement Pathways and Procedures Act.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
H 1
HOUSE BILL 963

Short Title: Code Enforcement Pathways & Procedures Act. (Public)
Sponsors: Representative Adams.
For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
Referred to: Appropriations, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House
April 14, 2025
*H963-v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO AMEND THE GENERAL STATUTES RELATED TO BUILDING CODE 2
ENFORCEMENT; TO ESTABLISH A BUILDING INSPECTOR APPRENTICESHIP 3
PROGRAM AND A PROGRAM FOR GENERAL CONTRACTORS TO BECOME 4
CODE-ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS; TO REQUIRE JUST CAUSE AND DUE 5
PROCESS PROTECTIONS FOR DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AGAINST COUNTY AND 6
MUNICIPAL BUILDING INSPECTORS; TO PROVIDE FINALITY FOR APPROVED 7
STAGES OF BUILDING INSPECTIONS UNDER SPECIFIED CONDITIONS; TO 8
ESTABLISH THE DISASTER BUILDING INSPECTION RELIEF FUND; AND TO 9
PRESERVE CERTAIN CODE OFFICIALS' AUTHORITY TO INSPECT CERTAIN 10
NONRESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS. 11
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 12
13
ESTABLISH BUILDING INSPECTOR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM 14
SECTION 1.(a) Article 9C of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by 15
adding a new section to read: 16
"§ 143-151.22. Building Inspector Apprenticeship and Certification Advancement. 17
(a) The Board, in consultation with the Office of State Fire Marshal, shall develop and 18
implement a Building Inspector Apprenticeship Program. This program is intended to provide a 19
structured pathway into the Code-enforcement profession and shall align with the types and 20
levels of certification established by the Board under G.S. 143-151.12. The program shall allow 21
local government inspection departments to employ apprentice Code-enforcement officials who 22
do not yet meet the requirements of G.S. 143-151.13 for standard certification. An apprentice 23
Code-enforcement official may perform inspections only under the direct supervision, as defined 24
by Board rule, of a fully certified Code-enforcement official holding a standard certificate of the 25
appropriate type and level. The Board shall adopt rules establishing the terms of the 26
apprenticeship, including, but not limited to, minimum training curriculum, precise requirements 27
for direct supervision and supervision ratios, and a maximum duration of one year, which may 28
be extended by the Board for up to one additional year in accordance with Board rules, for an 29
individual to serve as an apprentice. 30
(b) The Board may issue an apprenticeship certificate to an individual employed as an 31
apprentice Code-enforcement official, upon application by the employing jurisdiction. The 32
apprenticeship certificate shall be valid only for the apprentice's specific scope of assignments 33
and jurisdiction, as determined by the Board, and shall be conditioned on the individual's active 34
participation in required training and satisfactory progress in the program. Notwithstanding 35

General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
Page 2 House Bill 963-First Edition
G.S. 143-151.13(d), an apprenticeship certificate may be renewed or reissued in accordance with 1
Board rules if the individual remains employed in an active training capacity under the program, 2
subject to the maximum duration established under subsection (a) of this section. 3
(c) The Building Inspector Apprenticeship Program shall include a structured 4
combination of on-the-job training and related classroom or online education. The Board, in 5
consultation with the Office of State Fire Marshal, shall approve a curriculum of core Code 6
classes necessary for competency at the relevant certification level. The Board and the Office of 7
State Fire Marshal shall coordinate and facilitate access to such classes, including leveraging 8
resources and course offerings of the North Carolina Community College System, with the goal 9
of providing required core curriculum classes at no cost or reduced cost to apprentices or their 10
employing jurisdictions, subject to the availability of funds. An apprentice who successfully 11
completes the approved curriculum and meets any experience requirements set by the Board shall 12
be eligible to sit for the appropriate State examination for standard certification required by 13
G.S. 143-151.13(a) or qualify for certification under G.S. 143-151.13(c1). The Board may also 14
authorize partial credit toward experience requirements for higher level certifications based on 15
hours successfully completed in the apprenticeship program. 16
(d) The Office of State Fire Marshal is authorized to provide financial assistance to 17
encourage participation in the apprenticeship program. Subject to the availability of funds 18
appropriated for this purpose, the Office of State Fire Marshal may award grants to local 19
governments to support a portion of salary and training expenses for apprentice 20
Code-enforcement officials. Training expenses eligible for grant funding may include,