North Carolina HB 926: Regulatory Reform Act of 2025.

Bill Text

GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025

SESSION LAW 2025-94
HOUSE BILL 926

*H926-v-10*
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FURTHER REGULATORY RELIEF TO THE CITIZENS OF NORTH
CAROLINA.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

ALLOW AUTHORIZED ON-SITE WASTEWATER EVALUATOR TO PREPARE A
SITE DENIAL LETTER FOR SUBSURFACE WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
SECTION 1.(a) Definitions. – For purposes of this section, "Application Submittal
Rule" means 15A NCAC 02T .0604 (Application Submittal).
SECTION 1.(b) Application Submittal Rule. – Until the effective date of the revised
permanent rule that the Environmental Management Commission is required to adopt pursuant
to subsection (d) of this section, the Commission shall implement the Application Submittal Rule
as provided in subsection (c) of this section.
SECTION 1.(c) Implementation. – A letter from either the local county health
department or an Authorized On-Site Wastewater Evaluator certified pursuant to Article 5 of
Chapter 90A of the General Statutes denying the site for all subsurface systems shall be submitted
to the Division by the applicant.
SECTION 1.(d) Additional Rulemaking Authority. – The Commission shall adopt
a rule to amend the Application Submittal Rule consistent with subsection (c) of this section.
Notwithstanding G.S. 150B-19(4), the rule adopted by the Commission pursuant to this section
shall be substantively identical to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section. Rules adopted
pursuant to this section are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B of the General
Statutes. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall become effective as provided in
G.S. 150B-21.3(b1), as though 10 or more written objections had been received as provided in
G.S. 150B-21.3(b2).
SECTION 1.(e) Sunset. – This section expires when permanent rules adopted as
required by subsection (d) of this section become effective.

SURVEYOR RIGHT OF ENTRY
SECTION 2.(a) G.S. 89C-19.2 is repealed.
SECTION 2.(b) Article 22B of Chapter 14 of the General Statutes is amended by
adding a new section to read:
"§ 14-159.15. Limited right of entry by professional land surveyors.
(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms are defined as follows:
(1) Critical infrastructure. – As defined in 42 U.S.C. § 5195c.
(2) Landowner. – The owner, lessee, or occupant of a parcel of land.
(3) Practice of land surveying. – As defined in G.S. 89C-3.
(4) Professional land surveyor. – As defined in G.S. 89C-3. For purposes of this
section, this term includes any agents, employees, or personnel under the
supervision of a professional land surveyor.
(b) A professional land surveyor shall have the right to enter upon the lands of others, if
necessary to perform surveys for the practice of land surveying, including the location of property

Page 2 Session Law 2025-94 House Bill 926
corners, boundary lines, rights-of-way, and easements, and may carry with them their customary
equipment and vehicles. An entry by a professional land surveyor to perform the practice of land
surveying under this section shall not constitute trespass under this Article or Article 22A of this
Chapter and shall not cause the professional land surveyor to be subject to arrest or a civil action
by reason of the entry.
(c) Nothing in this section shall be construed as giving authority to a professional land
surveyor to destroy, injure, damage, or move anything on the lands of another without the written
permission of the landowner, and nothing in this section shall be construed as removing civil
liability for such damage.
(d) No professional land surveyor shall have a civil cause of action against a landowner
for personal injury or property damage incurred while on the land for purposes consistent with
those described in subsection (b) of this section, except when such damages and injury were
willfully or deliberately caused by the landowner.
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed as giving authority to a professional land
surveyor to do the following:
(1) Enter lands traversed by an operating railroad or properties owned, held, used,
or operated by a railroad or their subsidiaries.
(2) Enter lands containing critical infrastructure."
SECTION 2.(c) This section applies to acts on or after its effective date.

AWARD ATTORNEYS' FEES FOR TRESPASS TO REAL PROPERTY OR
SURVEYOR NEGLIGENCE
SECTION 2.5. G.S. 6-21 reads as rewritten:
"§ 6-21. Costs allowed either party or apportioned in discretion of court.
Costs in the following matters shall be taxed against either party, or apportioned among the
parties, in the discretion of the court:
...
(13) In actions for trespass upon real property.
(14) In actions against any professional land surveyor as defined in G.S. 89C-3(9)
or any person acting under the surveyor's supervision and control for physical
damage or economic or monetary loss due to negligence or deficiency in
performance of surveying or platting.
The word "costs" as used in this section includes reasonable attorn