Bill > H281

This bill restores the authority for local governments in Morehead City and five surrounding towns (Beaufort, Bogue, Cape Carteret, Cedar Point, and Newport) to initiate down-zoning amendments without requiring written consent from all property owners. Down-zoning is defined as changing land use regulations to either decrease development density or reduce permitted land uses. The bill removes a previous provision that considered creating nonconformities in land use as a form of down-zoning. Specifically, the legislation allows local governments to propose zoning changes that might reduce the potential development or uses of a property without needing unanimous property owner approval. The bill is effective immediately and applies retroactively to December 11, 2024, which means any zoning ordinances affected by a previous legislative act will return to their status as of that date. This change provides local municipalities more flexibility in managing land use and zoning regulations within their jurisdictions.

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https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H281