GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2025
S 1
SENATE BILL 713
Short Title: Limit Local Gov't Environmental Rqmt's. (Public)
Sponsors: Senators Jarvis, Moffitt, and McInnis (Primary Sponsors).
Referred to: Rules and Operations of the Senate
March 26, 2025
*S713 -v-1*
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1
AN ACT TO LIMIT LOCA L GOVERNMENT AUTHORI TY TO REGULATE 2
ENVIRONMENTAL MATTER S. 3
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts: 4
SECTION 1. Part 1 of Article 7 of Chapter 143B of the General Statutes is amended 5
by adding a new section to read: 6
"ยง 143B-279.30. Limitation on regulation of environmental matters by units of local 7
government. 8
(a) No unit of local government, as that term is defined by G.S. 159-44, may enact, adopt, 9
implement, or enforce any ordinance, rule, regulation, or policy for the protection of the 10
environment or natural resources that imposes a more restrictive standard or limitation than those 11
imposed by State or federal law, unless otherwise specifically directed by the General Assembly. 12
(b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a unit of local government from 13
adopting, implementing, and enforcing requirements necessary to comply with federal or State 14
law or a condition of a permit, certificate, or other approval issued by a federal or State agency, 15
provided such requirement does not exceed the scope of the authority expressly granted. 16
(c) The limitation established by this section shall not be construed to apply to any 17
ordinance, rule, regulation, or policy adopted by a unit of local where the regulations are adopted 18
as a condition of participation in the National Flood Insurance Program." 19
SECTION 2. This act is effective when it becomes law. Each unit of local 20
government shall review and amend its ordinances, rules, regulations, and policies to ensure 21
compliance with G.S. 143B-279.30, as enacted by Section 1 of this act, by December 1, 2025, 22
after which date any non-compliant provisions remaining shall be null and void. 23