Bill > S758

This bill introduces comprehensive reforms to water and sewer infrastructure allocation in North Carolina, focusing on ensuring fair and transparent service for residential development. The legislation establishes clear restrictions on local government units serving over 1,000 residential connections, prohibiting them from imposing arbitrary conditions on water and sewer service applications, such as demanding additional fees, land use restrictions, or design requirements. Local government units are now mandated to allocate water and sewer services without discrimination, maintain detailed quarterly reports on infrastructure capacity, and actively pursue capacity expansion strategies. The bill requires local governments to publish explanations if service capacity is constrained, develop temporary allocation policies, and notify applicants about their service status. Importantly, the legislation creates an enforcement mechanism allowing aggrieved parties to seek injunctive relief through civil action, with potential penalties up to $5,000 per violation. Additionally, the bill expands the State Water Infrastructure Authority's duties to include monitoring compliance with these new allocation requirements and providing technical assistance to local government units. The primary goal is to streamline water and sewer infrastructure development, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and ensure more equitable access to essential services for residential developments.

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/S758