North Carolina 2025-2026 Regular Session

North Carolina House Bill H829 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
2	2		SESSION 2025
3		-	H 1
4		-	HOUSE BILL 829
	3	+	H D
	4	+	HOUSE BILL DRH30299-NN-58
	5	+
5	6
6	7
7	8		Short Title: Locksmith Licensing Act Modernization. (Public)
8		-	Sponsors: Representatives Schietzelt, Winslow, and Chesser (Primary Sponsors).
9		-	For a complete list of sponsors, refer to the North Carolina General Assembly web site.
10		-	Referred to: Regulatory Reform, if favorable, Finance, if favorable, Rules, Calendar, and
11		-	Operations of the House
12		-	April 9, 2025
13		-	H829 -v-1
	9	+	Sponsors: Representative Schietzelt.
	10	+	Referred to:
	11	+
	12	+	DRH30299 -NN-58
14	13		A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
15	14		AN ACT TO REQUIRE LICENSURE FOR LOCKSMITH BUSINESSES, TO MODIFY 2
16	15		REQUIREMENTS FOR LOCKSMITH APPRENTICES, TO CLARIFY LOCKSMITH 3
17	16		LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND EXEMPTIONS, AND TO STRENGTHEN 4
18	17		ENFORCEMENT OF THE LOCKSMITH LICENSING ACT. 5
19	18		The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 6
20	19		SECTION 1.(a) G.S. 74F-3 reads as rewritten: 7
21	20		"§ 74F-3. Licenses required; violation. 8
22	21		(a) No person shall perform or offer to perform locksmith services in this State unless the 9
23	22		person has been licensed under the provisions of this Chapter. Every person providing locksmith 10
24	23		services as defined under G.S. 74F-4(5) to buildings containing medical records, pharmaceutical 11
25	24		records, educational records, criminal records, voting records, tax records, legal records, or 12
26	25		personnel records, G.S. 74F-4(5), including any person providing locksmith services who is 13
27	26		employed by or working for a school, college, university, hospital, company, institution, or 14
28	27		government facility shall be licensed in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter. 15
29	28		(a1) The provisions of this Chapter shall apply to corporations, companies, firms, 16
30	29		associations, or sole proprietorships that provide locksmith services to the public. A licensed 17
31	30		locksmith who owns and operates a corporation, company, firm, association, or sole 18
32	31		proprietorship that provides locksmith services shall obtain a locksmith business license from the 19
33	32		Board. The locksmith business license shall be renewed annually. 20
34	33		(b) Unless the conduct is covered under some other provision of law providing greater 21
35	34		punishment, a violation of this section is a Class 1 misdemeanor for the first offense. A second 22
36	35		or subsequent offense is a Class I felony." 23
37	36		SECTION 1.(b) G.S. 74F-4 reads as rewritten: 24
38	37		"§ 74F-4. Definitions. 25
39	38		The following definitions apply in this Chapter: 26
40	39		(1) Apprentice. – A person who has been issued an apprenticeship designation by 27
41	40		the Board. 28
42	41		(1a) Board. – The North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board. 29
43	42		(2) Code book. – A compilation, in any form, of key codes and combinations. 30
44	43		(3) License. – A certificate issued by the Board recognizing the person named 31
45	44		therein as having met the requirements to perform locksmith services as 32
46		-	defined in this Chapter. 33 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
47		-	Page 2 House Bill 829-First Edition
48		-	(4) Locksmith. – A person who has been issued a license by the Board. In order 1
49		-	to engage in the practice of locksmith services, a locksmith must own, be 2
50		-	employed by, or otherwise be an agent of a locksmith business. 3
51		-	(4a) Locksmith business. – A corporation, company, firm, association, or sole 4
52		-	proprietorship that provides locksmith services to the public. 5
53		-	(5) Locksmith services. – Services that include repairing, rebuilding, rekeying, 6
54		-	repinning, servicing, adjusting, or installing locks, mechanical or electronic 7
55		-	locking devices, access control devices, egress control devices, safes, vaults, 8
56		-	and safe-deposit boxes for compensation or other consideration, including 9
57		-	services performed by safe technicians. The definition also includes any 10
58		-	method of bypassing a locking mechanism of any kind, whether in a 11
59		-	commercial, residential, or automotive setting, for compensation. 12
60		-	(6) Locksmith tools. – Any tools that are designed or used to open a mechanical 13
61		-	or electrical locking device in a way other than that which was intended by 14
62		-	the manufacturer." 15
63		-	SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 74F-7 reads as rewritten: 16
64		-	"§ 74F-7. Qualifications for license. 17
65		-	(a) An applicant shall be licensed as a locksmith if the applicant meets all of the following 18
66		-	qualifications: 19
67		-	(1) Is of good moral and ethical character, as evidenced in part by a criminal 20
68		-	history record check conducted in accordance with G.S. 74F-18. 21
69		-	(2) Is at least 18 years of age. 22
70		-	(3) Successfully completes an examination administered by the Board that 23
71		-	measures the knowledge and skill of the applicant in locksmith services and 24
72		-	the laws applicable to licensed locksmiths. 25
73		-	(4) Pays the required fee under G.S. 74F-9. 26
74		-	Applications for locksmith license shall be made on forms provided by the Board and shall 27
75		-	be accompanied by the application fee under G.S. 74F-9. 28
76		-	(b) An applicant for locksmith business license shall submit all of the requirements to the 29
77		-	Board: 30
78		-	(1) If the applicant is a corporation or company, articles of incorporation or 31
79		-	organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State. 32
80		-	(2) An Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. 33
81		-	(3) Mailing address in the State of North Carolina. 34
82		-	(4) Required locksmith business license fee as established in G.S. 74F-9. 35
83		-	(5) The names and contact information for all individuals performing locksmith 36
84		-	services on behalf of the locksmith business or working under the direct 37
85		-	control or supervision of a locksmith working for the locksmith business. 38
86		-	Applications for locksmith business license shall be made on forms provided by the Board 39
87		-	and filed with the Board by the owner, a partner, a member of the limited liability company, or 40
88		-	an officer of the corporation and shall be accompanied by the application fee under G.S. 74F-9. 41
89		-	(c) If a locksmith business is solely owned by a natural person, that person must be 42
90		-	licensed by the Board as a locksmith. If it is owned by a partnership, at least one partner must be 43
91		-	licensed by the Board as a locksmith. If it is owned by a corporation, the president, vice-president, 44
92		-	or the chairman of the board of directors must be licensed by the Board as a locksmith. If it is 45
93		-	owned by a limited liability company, at least one member must be licensed by the Board as a 46
94		-	locksmith. The licensee required by this subsection must be actively engaged in the operation of 47
95		-	the locksmith business." 48
96		-	SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 74F-7.1 reads as rewritten: 49
97		-	"§ 74F-7.1. Apprentices. 50 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
98		-	House Bill 829-First Edition Page 3
99		-	(a) An applicant may receive an apprentice designation if the applicant meets all of the 1
100		-	following requirements: 2
101		-	(1) Is of good moral and ethical character, as evidenced in part by a criminal 3
102		-	history record check conducted in accordance with G.S. 74F-18. 4
103		-	(2) Is at least 18 years of age. 5
104		-	(3) Pays the required fee under G.S. 74F-9. 6
105		-	(4) Completes 16 hours of Board-approved technical locksmith training. 7
106		-	Applications for an apprentice license shall be made on forms provided by the Board. 8
107		-	(b) After an applicant has satisfied the requirements in subsection (a) of this section, the 9
108		-	apprentice may practice as an apprentice locksmith under the supervision of a licensed locksmith. 10
109		-	The Board shall issue each apprentice a colored badge card that identifies the individual as an 11
110		-	apprentice and includes the apprentice designation. designation, which apprentices must display 12
111		-	prominently when engaging in locksmith services. The Board shall establish requirements for 13
112		-	apprentice supervision. 14
113		-	(c) An apprentice may have the apprentice designation for no longer than license shall be 15
114		-	valid for three years. On or before the three-year period expires, the apprentice shall may take 16
115		-	the locksmith licensure examination administered by the Board. If the apprentice fails to take the 17
116		-	examination within the three-year period or fails the examination and does not retake the 18
117		-	examination on or before the three-year period expires, the apprentice shall not receive licensure 19
118		-	and shall not be granted another apprenticeship.shall be eligible to renew their apprentice license 20
119		-	for one additional three-year term by completing a renewal application and submitting it to the 21
120		-	Board. 22
121		-	(d) If an apprentice terminates employment with a licensed locksmith under which the 23
122		-	apprentice originally received his or her apprenticeship, the apprentice shall find employment 24
123		-	with another licensed locksmith to maintain the apprentice designation and shall pay a transfer 25
124		-	fee pursuant to G.S. 74F-9. Apprentices must notify the Board in writing within 15 days 26
125		-	following their termination of employment with their supervising licensed locksmith. 27
126		-	Each licensed locksmith shall have no more than two three apprentices at one time. However, 28
127		-	a licensed locksmith shall have a 90-day grace period within which to accommodate more than 29
128		-	two three apprentices if the apprentice is newly hired as a result of a previous termination of 30
129		-	employment or the inability of a licensed locksmith to supervise the apprentice. The licensed 31
130		-	locksmith shall contact the Board once within 15 days after the locksmith terminates the 32
131		-	additional supervision of an apprentice, and the licensed locksmith shall be legally responsible 33
132		-	for the apprentice's work until the Board is notified otherwise." 34
133		-	SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 74F-9 reads as rewritten: 35
134		-	"§ 74F-9. Fees. 36
135		-	The Board shall establish fees not exceeding the following amounts: 37
136		-	(1) Issuance of a license $300.00 38
137		-	(2) Renewal of a license $300.00 39
138		-	(3) Examination $200.00 40
139		-	(4) Reinstatement $250.00 41
140		-	(5) Late fees $300.00 42
141		-	(6) Apprentice license fee $300.00 43
142		-	(7) Apprentice transfer fee $25.00.$25.00 44
143		-	(8) Business license fee $100.00." 45
144		-	SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 74F-15 reads as rewritten: 46
145		-	"§ 74F-15. Disciplinary procedures. 47
146		-	(a) The Board may deny or refuse to issue or renew, suspend, or revoke a license or 48
147		-	apprenticeship designation if the licensee, apprentice, or applicant: 49
148		-	(1) Gives false information to or withholds information from the Board in 50
149		-	procuring or attempting to procure a license. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
150		-	Page 4 House Bill 829-First Edition
151		-	(2) Has been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to any of the crimes listed 1
152		-	in G.S. 74F-18(a)(2). 2
153		-	(3) Has demonstrated gross negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in 3
154		-	performing locksmith services. 4
155		-	(4) Has willfully violated any of the provisions of this Chapter.Chapter or any 5
156		-	rules promulgated by the Board. 6
157		-	(b) The Board may assess the costs of disciplinary action, including attorneys' fees, 7
158		-	against an applicant or licensee found to be in violation of this Chapter or rules adopted by the 8
159		-	Board. 9
160		-	(c) The Board may place on probation, refuse to issue or renew, suspend, or revoke a 10
161		-	locksmith business license when an owner, partner, manager, member, operator, officer, licensee, 11
162		-	apprentice, or other individual under the direct control and supervision of a licensed locksmith 12
163		-	working for the locksmith business violates any provision of this Article or any rule of the 13
164		-	Board." 14
165		-	SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 74F-16 reads as rewritten: 15
166		-	"§ 74F-16. Exemptions. 16
167		-	The provisions of this Chapter do not apply to: 17
168		-	(1) An employee of a licensed locksmith when acting under the direct control and 18
169		-	supervision of the licensed locksmith. For purposes of this subdivision, "direct 19
170		-	control and supervision" means that a licensed locksmith is required to 20
171		-	physically accompany the employee to the premises where locksmith services 21
172		-	are to be performed.performed and remain present at all times that the 22
173		-	employee is engaged in the practice of locksmith services. 23
174		-	(1a) An employee of a locksmith company performing administrative duties only. 24
175		-	For purposes of this section, "administrative duties" means managing the daily 25
176		-	operations of an office in a locksmith company, including performing clerical 26
177		-	tasks, answering telephones, and greeting customers. 27
178		-	(2) A person working as an apprentice pursuant to G.S. 74F-7.1. 28
179		-	(3) A person or business required to be licensed or registered by the North 29
180		-	Carolina Alarm Systems Licensing Board pursuant to Chapter 74D of the 30
181		-	General Statutes, when acting within the scope and course of the alarm 31
182		-	systems license or registration. 32
183		-	(4) A person or business providing any of the following services so long as the 33
184		-	person or business does not represent himself, herself, or itself as a locksmith: 34
185		-	a. A towing service, or its employee, when providing services in the 35
186		-	normal course of its business. 36
187		-	b. An automotive repair business, or its employee, when opening a 37
188		-	vehicle to perform service on the vehicle. 38
189		-	c. A repossessing company, or its employee, while repossessing a 39
190		-	vehicle. 40
191		-	d. A motor vehicle dealer as defined in G.S. 20-286(11), or a motor club 41
192		-	as defined in G.S. 58-69-1 when opening automotive locks in the 42
193		-	normal course of the dealer or club's business duties. 43
194		-	e. An emergency roadside assistance company, when providing services 44
195		-	in the normal course of its business, not to include the production of 45
196		-	new or duplicate keys for customers. 46
197		-	(5) A property owner, or the owner's employee, when providing locksmith 47
198		-	services on the property owner's property, so long as the owner or employee 48
199		-	does not represent himself or herself as a locksmith. For purposes of this 49
200		-	section, "property" means, but is not limited to, a hotel, motel, apartment, 50
201		-	condominium, commercial rental property, and residential rental property. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
202		-	House Bill 829-First Edition Page 5
203		-	(6) A merchant, or retail or hardware store, retail store, hardware store, or auto 1
204		-	parts store, so long as all of the following apply: 2
205		-	a. It is lawfully duplicating keys or installing, servicing, repairing, 3
206		-	rebuilding, reprograming, rekeying, or maintaining locks in the normal 4
207		-	course of its business. 5
208		-	b. It maintains a physical location in this State. 6
209		-	c. It maintains a sales and use tax permit in accordance with 7
210		-	G.S. 105-164.16. 8
211		-	d. It does not represent itself as a locksmith. 9
212		-	(7) A member of a law enforcement agency, fire department, or other government 10
213		-	agency who, when acting within the scope and course of the member's 11
214		-	employment with the agency or department, opens locked doors to vehicles, 12
215		-	homes, or businesses. 13
216		-	(8) A salesperson while demonstrating the use of locksmith tools to persons 14
217		-	licensed under this Chapter. 15
218		-	(9) A general contractor licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 87 of the General 16
219		-	Statutes when acting within the scope and course of the general contractor 17
220		-	license, or an agent or subcontractor of a licensed general contractor when 18
221		-	acting within the ordinary course of business. 19
222		-	(10) A person or business when lawfully installing or maintaining a safety lock 20
223		-	device on a wastewater system when the safety lock device is required by 21
224		-	permit or requested by the owner of the wastewater system, provided the 22
225		-	person or business does not represent itself as a locksmith. For purposes of 23
226		-	this subdivision, "wastewater system" has the same meaning as in 24
227		-	G.S. 130A-334. 25
228		-	(11) Any person or firm that sells gun safes or locking devices for firearms during 26
229		-	the course of the sale of gun safes or locking devices for firearms, so long as 27
230		-	the person or firm, or the firm's employee, does not represent himself, herself, 28
231		-	or itself as a locksmith. 29
232		-	(12) A person while performing a locksmith service in an emergency situation 30
233		-	without receiving any compensation for this service and who does not 31
234		-	advertise those services." 32
235		-	SECTION 1.(h) G.S. 74F-17 reads as rewritten: 33
236		-	"§ 74F-17. Injunctions. 34
237		-	The Board may apply to the superior court for an order enjoining violations of this Chapter. 35
238		-	Upon a showing by the Board that any person has violated this Chapter, the court may grant 36
239		-	injunctive relief.relief and may award attorneys' fees and costs to the Board." 37
240		-	SECTION 2. The North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board may adopt rules to 38
241		-	implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act. 39
242		-	SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act becomes effective October 1, 2025. The remainder 40
243		-	of this act is effective when it becomes law. 41
	45	+	defined in this Chapter. 33
	46	+	(4) Locksmith. – A person who has been issued a license by the Board. In order 34
	47	+	to engage in the practice of locksmith services, a locksmith must own, be 35
	48	+	employed by, or otherwise be an agent of a locksmith business. 36
	49	+	H.B. 829
	50	+	Apr 8, 2025
	51	+	HOUSE PRINCIPAL CLERK General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	52	+	Page 2 DRH30299-NN-58
	53	+	(4a) Locksmith business. – A corporation, company, firm, association, or sole 1
	54	+	proprietorship that provides locksmith services to the public. 2
	55	+	(5) Locksmith services. – Services that include repairing, rebuilding, rekeying, 3
	56	+	repinning, servicing, adjusting, or installing locks, mechanical or electronic 4
	57	+	locking devices, access control devices, egress control devices, safes, vaults, 5
	58	+	and safe-deposit boxes for compensation or other consideration, including 6
	59	+	services performed by safe technicians. The definition also includes any 7
	60	+	method of bypassing a locking mechanism of any kind, whether in a 8
	61	+	commercial, residential, or automotive setting, for compensation. 9
	62	+	(6) Locksmith tools. – Any tools that are designed or used to open a mechanical 10
	63	+	or electrical locking device in a way other than that which was intended by 11
	64	+	the manufacturer." 12
	65	+	SECTION 1.(c) G.S. 74F-7 reads as rewritten: 13
	66	+	"§ 74F-7. Qualifications for license. 14
	67	+	(a) An applicant shall be licensed as a locksmith if the applicant meets all of the following 15
	68	+	qualifications: 16
	69	+	(1) Is of good moral and ethical character, as evidenced in part by a criminal 17
	70	+	history record check conducted in accordance with G.S. 74F-18. 18
	71	+	(2) Is at least 18 years of age. 19
	72	+	(3) Successfully completes an examination administered by the Board that 20
	73	+	measures the knowledge and skill of the applicant in locksmith services and 21
	74	+	the laws applicable to licensed locksmiths. 22
	75	+	(4) Pays the required fee under G.S. 74F-9. 23
	76	+	Applications for locksmith license shall be made on forms provided by the Board and shall 24
	77	+	be accompanied by the application fee under G.S. 74F-9. 25
	78	+	(b) An applicant for locksmith business license shall submit all of the requirements to the 26
	79	+	Board: 27
	80	+	(1) If the applicant is a corporation or company, articles of incorporation or 28
	81	+	organization with the North Carolina Secretary of State. 29
	82	+	(2) An Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the Internal Revenue Service. 30
	83	+	(3) Mailing address in the State of North Carolina. 31
	84	+	(4) Required locksmith business license fee as established in G.S. 74F-9. 32
	85	+	(5) The names and contact information for all individuals performing locksmith 33
	86	+	services on behalf of the locksmith business or working under the direct 34
	87	+	control or supervision of a locksmith working for the locksmith business. 35
	88	+	Applications for locksmith business license shall be made on forms provided by the Board 36
	89	+	and filed with the Board by the owner, a partner, a member of the limited liability company, or 37
	90	+	an officer of the corporation and shall be accompanied by the application fee under G.S. 74F-9. 38
	91	+	(c) If a locksmith business is solely owned by a natural person, that person must be 39
	92	+	licensed by the Board as a locksmith. If it is owned by a partnership, at least one partner must be 40
	93	+	licensed by the Board as a locksmith. If it is owned by a corporation, the president, vice-president, 41
	94	+	or the chairman of the board of directors must be licensed by the Board as a locksmith. If it is 42
	95	+	owned by a limited liability company, at least one member must be licensed by the Board as a 43
	96	+	locksmith. The licensee required by this subsection must be actively engaged in the operation of 44
	97	+	the locksmith business." 45
	98	+	SECTION 1.(d) G.S. 74F-7.1 reads as rewritten: 46
	99	+	"§ 74F-7.1. Apprentices. 47
	100	+	(a) An applicant may receive an apprentice designation if the applicant meets all of the 48
	101	+	following requirements: 49
	102	+	(1) Is of good moral and ethical character, as evidenced in part by a criminal 50
	103	+	history record check conducted in accordance with G.S. 74F-18. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	104	+	DRH30299-NN-58 Page 3
	105	+	(2) Is at least 18 years of age. 1
	106	+	(3) Pays the required fee under G.S. 74F-9. 2
	107	+	(4) Completes 16 hours of Board-approved technical locksmith training. 3
	108	+	Applications for an apprentice license shall be made on forms provided by the Board. 4
	109	+	(b) After an applicant has satisfied the requirements in subsection (a) of this section, the 5
	110	+	apprentice may practice as an apprentice locksmith under the supervision of a licensed locksmith. 6
	111	+	The Board shall issue each apprentice a colored badge card that identifies the individual as an 7
	112	+	apprentice and includes the apprentice designation. designation, which apprentices must display 8
	113	+	prominently when engaging in locksmith services. The Board shall establish requirements for 9
	114	+	apprentice supervision. 10
	115	+	(c) An apprentice may have the apprentice designation for no longer than license shall be 11
	116	+	valid for three years. On or before the three-year period expires, the apprentice shall may take 12
	117	+	the locksmith licensure examination administered by the Board. If the apprentice fails to take the 13
	118	+	examination within the three-year period or fails the examination and does not retake the 14
	119	+	examination on or before the three-year period expires, the apprentice shall not receive licensure 15
	120	+	and shall not be granted another apprenticeship.shall be eligible to renew their apprentice license 16
	121	+	for one additional three-year term by completing a renewal application and submitting it to the 17
	122	+	Board. 18
	123	+	(d) If an apprentice terminates employment with a licensed locksmith under which the 19
	124	+	apprentice originally received his or her apprenticeship, the apprentice shall find employment 20
	125	+	with another licensed locksmith to maintain the apprentice designation and shall pay a transfer 21
	126	+	fee pursuant to G.S. 74F-9. Apprentices must notify the Board in writing within 15 days 22
	127	+	following their termination of employment with their supervising licensed locksmith. 23
	128	+	Each licensed locksmith shall have no more than two three apprentices at one time. However, 24
	129	+	a licensed locksmith shall have a 90-day grace period within which to accommodate more than 25
	130	+	two three apprentices if the apprentice is newly hired as a result of a previous termination of 26
	131	+	employment or the inability of a licensed locksmith to supervise the apprentice. The licensed 27
	132	+	locksmith shall contact the Board once within 15 days after the locksmith terminates the 28
	133	+	additional supervision of an apprentice, and the licensed locksmith shall be legally responsible 29
	134	+	for the apprentice's work until the Board is notified otherwise." 30
	135	+	SECTION 1.(e) G.S. 74F-9 reads as rewritten: 31
	136	+	"§ 74F-9. Fees. 32
	137	+	The Board shall establish fees not exceeding the following amounts: 33
	138	+	(1) Issuance of a license $300.00 34
	139	+	(2) Renewal of a license $300.00 35
	140	+	(3) Examination $200.00 36
	141	+	(4) Reinstatement $250.00 37
	142	+	(5) Late fees $300.00 38
	143	+	(6) Apprentice license fee $300.00 39
	144	+	(7) Apprentice transfer fee $25.00.$25.00 40
	145	+	(8) Business license fee $100.00." 41
	146	+	SECTION 1.(f) G.S. 74F-15 reads as rewritten: 42
	147	+	"§ 74F-15. Disciplinary procedures. 43
	148	+	(a) The Board may deny or refuse to issue or renew, suspend, or revoke a license or 44
	149	+	apprenticeship designation if the licensee, apprentice, or applicant: 45
	150	+	(1) Gives false information to or withholds information from the Board in 46
	151	+	procuring or attempting to procure a license. 47
	152	+	(2) Has been convicted of or pled guilty or no contest to any of the crimes listed 48
	153	+	in G.S. 74F-18(a)(2). 49
	154	+	(3) Has demonstrated gross negligence, incompetency, or misconduct in 50
	155	+	performing locksmith services. 51 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	156	+	Page 4 DRH30299-NN-58
	157	+	(4) Has willfully violated any of the provisions of this Chapter.Chapter or any 1
	158	+	rules promulgated by the Board. 2
	159	+	(b) The Board may assess the costs of disciplinary action, including attorneys' fees, 3
	160	+	against an applicant or licensee found to be in violation of this Chapter or rules adopted by the 4
	161	+	Board. 5
	162	+	(c) The Board may place on probation, refuse to issue or renew, suspend, or revoke a 6
	163	+	locksmith business license when an owner, partner, manager, member, operator, officer, licensee, 7
	164	+	apprentice, or other individual under the direct control and supervision of a licensed locksmith 8
	165	+	working for the locksmith business violates any provision of this Article or any rule of the 9
	166	+	Board." 10
	167	+	SECTION 1.(g) G.S. 74F-16 reads as rewritten: 11
	168	+	"§ 74F-16. Exemptions. 12
	169	+	The provisions of this Chapter do not apply to: 13
	170	+	(1) An employee of a licensed locksmith when acting under the direct control and 14
	171	+	supervision of the licensed locksmith. For purposes of this subdivision, "direct 15
	172	+	control and supervision" means that a licensed locksmith is required to 16
	173	+	physically accompany the employee to the premises where locksmith services 17
	174	+	are to be performed.performed and remain present at all times that the 18
	175	+	employee is engaged in the practice of locksmith services. 19
	176	+	(1a) An employee of a locksmith company performing administrative duties only. 20
	177	+	For purposes of this section, "administrative duties" means managing the daily 21
	178	+	operations of an office in a locksmith company, including performing clerical 22
	179	+	tasks, answering telephones, and greeting customers. 23
	180	+	(2) A person working as an apprentice pursuant to G.S. 74F-7.1. 24
	181	+	(3) A person or business required to be licensed or registered by the North 25
	182	+	Carolina Alarm Systems Licensing Board pursuant to Chapter 74D of the 26
	183	+	General Statutes, when acting within the scope and course of the alarm 27
	184	+	systems license or registration. 28
	185	+	(4) A person or business providing any of the following services so long as the 29
	186	+	person or business does not represent himself, herself, or itself as a locksmith: 30
	187	+	a. A towing service, or its employee, when providing services in the 31
	188	+	normal course of its business. 32
	189	+	b. An automotive repair business, or its employee, when opening a 33
	190	+	vehicle to perform service on the vehicle. 34
	191	+	c. A repossessing company, or its employee, while repossessing a 35
	192	+	vehicle. 36
	193	+	d. A motor vehicle dealer as defined in G.S. 20-286(11), or a motor club 37
	194	+	as defined in G.S. 58-69-1 when opening automotive locks in the 38
	195	+	normal course of the dealer or club's business duties. 39
	196	+	e. An emergency roadside assistance company, when providing services 40
	197	+	in the normal course of its business, not to include the production of 41
	198	+	new or duplicate keys for customers. 42
	199	+	(5) A property owner, or the owner's employee, when providing locksmith 43
	200	+	services on the property owner's property, so long as the owner or employee 44
	201	+	does not represent himself or herself as a locksmith. For purposes of this 45
	202	+	section, "property" means, but is not limited to, a hotel, motel, apartment, 46
	203	+	condominium, commercial rental property, and residential rental property. 47
	204	+	(6) A merchant, or retail or hardware store, retail store, hardware store, or auto 48
	205	+	parts store, so long as all of the following apply: 49 General Assembly Of North Carolina Session 2025
	206	+	DRH30299-NN-58 Page 5
	207	+	a. It is lawfully duplicating keys or installing, servicing, repairing, 1
	208	+	rebuilding, reprograming, rekeying, or maintaining locks in the normal 2
	209	+	course of its business. 3
	210	+	b. It maintains a physical location in this State. 4
	211	+	c. It maintains a sales and use tax permit in accordance with 5
	212	+	G.S. 105-164.16. 6
	213	+	d. It does not represent itself as a locksmith. 7
	214	+	(7) A member of a law enforcement agency, fire department, or other government 8
	215	+	agency who, when acting within the scope and course of the member's 9
	216	+	employment with the agency or department, opens locked doors to vehicles, 10
	217	+	homes, or businesses. 11
	218	+	(8) A salesperson while demonstrating the use of locksmith tools to persons 12
	219	+	licensed under this Chapter. 13
	220	+	(9) A general contractor licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 87 of the General 14
	221	+	Statutes when acting within the scope and course of the general contractor 15
	222	+	license, or an agent or subcontractor of a licensed general contractor when 16
	223	+	acting within the ordinary course of business. 17
	224	+	(10) A person or business when lawfully installing or maintaining a safety lock 18
	225	+	device on a wastewater system when the safety lock device is required by 19
	226	+	permit or requested by the owner of the wastewater system, provided the 20
	227	+	person or business does not represent itself as a locksmith. For purposes of 21
	228	+	this subdivision, "wastewater system" has the same meaning as in 22
	229	+	G.S. 130A-334. 23
	230	+	(11) Any person or firm that sells gun safes or locking devices for firearms during 24
	231	+	the course of the sale of gun safes or locking devices for firearms, so long as 25
	232	+	the person or firm, or the firm's employee, does not represent himself, herself, 26
	233	+	or itself as a locksmith. 27
	234	+	(12) A person while performing a locksmith service in an emergency situation 28
	235	+	without receiving any compensation for this service and who does not 29
	236	+	advertise those services." 30
	237	+	SECTION 1.(h) G.S. 74F-17 reads as rewritten: 31
	238	+	"§ 74F-17. Injunctions. 32
	239	+	The Board may apply to the superior court for an order enjoining violations of this Chapter. 33
	240	+	Upon a showing by the Board that any person has violated this Chapter, the court may grant 34
	241	+	injunctive relief.relief and may award attorneys' fees and costs to the Board." 35
	242	+	SECTION 2. The North Carolina Locksmith Licensing Board may adopt rules to 36
	243	+	implement the provisions of Section 1 of this act. 37
	244	+	SECTION 3. Section 1 of this act becomes effective October 1, 2025. The remainder 38
	245	+	of this act is effective when it becomes law. 39