Bill > H253

This bill restores the authority for local governments in Henderson County to initiate down-zoning (reducing land development density or permitted uses) without requiring written consent from all property owners, but only under specific circumstances. Specifically, the local government can now initiate down-zoning for two primary purposes: (1) preserving farmland in agricultural districts, and (2) mitigating flood risks in areas designated as special flood hazard zones by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The bill removes a previous provision that considered creating non-conforming land uses as a form of down-zoning. The legislation applies exclusively to Henderson County and its municipalities, and is retroactively effective as of December 11, 2024, which means it will restore any zoning ordinances that might have been impacted by a previous legislative change. The goal appears to be providing local governments more flexibility in land use planning, particularly for agricultural preservation and flood risk management.

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https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H253