Bill > S11

This bill modifies zoning regulations in several North Carolina counties by restoring local governments' authority to initiate down-zoning amendments. Down-zoning is defined as changing land use to be less dense or reduce permitted uses, and previously required written consent from all affected property owners. The bill removes this consent requirement when a local government initiates the down-zoning amendment, specifically applying to Bertie, Camden, Currituck, Dare, Gates, Hertford, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, and Tyrrell Counties. Additionally, the bill eliminates a provision that previously considered creating any type of nonconformity on non-residential land as down-zoning. The legislation is retroactively effective as of December 11, 2024, and will reinstate any zoning ordinances that may have been affected by a previous legislative change, essentially providing more flexibility for local governments to modify zoning regulations without requiring unanimous property owner consent.