Bill > S220

This bill revises North Carolina's laws regarding trespassing on private property for hunting, fishing, trapping, and removing pine needles/straw. The legislation expands the existing legal framework by differentiating between "posted" and "unposted" private property and modifying trespassing penalties. Under the new law, individuals who enter posted or unposted private property without written permission to hunt, fish, trap, or access public trust waters will face different misdemeanor charges: a Class 2 misdemeanor for posted property and a Class 3 misdemeanor for unposted property. The bill standardizes written permission requirements, specifying that permission must be carried on the person, signed by the property owner or their agent, and dated within the last 12 months. Additionally, the bill introduces enhanced penalties for repeat offenders, such as making a second violation of trespassing on unposted property within three years a Class 2 misdemeanor. The legislation also increases fines for certain deer-related offenses, with unlawful deer taking now potentially resulting in a minimum fine of $1,000. These changes aim to strengthen property owners' rights and provide clearer guidelines for recreational activities on private lands. The bill will take effect on October 1, 2025, and apply to offenses committed on or after that date.

Agriculture and Natural Resources, Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S220