Bill > H626

This bill introduces a comprehensive set of land-use regulation strategies designed to address housing challenges in North Carolina municipalities of different sizes. For municipalities with fewer than 100,000 residents, the bill allows them to adopt provisions such as permitting multifamily residential development by right, waiving construction-related fees for low- or moderate-income housing, allowing accessory dwelling units, and implementing first-time homebuyer education services. For municipalities with 100,000 or more residents, the bill introduces more extensive requirements, including establishing minimum residential density, allowing accessory dwelling units, prohibiting parking requirements, permitting multifamily dwellings in single-family zones, and enabling development near transit corridors. The bill also modifies the criteria for priority consideration in water infrastructure funding, now including a new category that rewards municipalities adopting these land-use strategies. Additionally, the bill mandates that the Legislative Research Commission conduct a comprehensive study on the state's housing needs, including projections for housing unit requirements through 2050, with a report due to the 2025 General Assembly. The State Water Infrastructure Authority is tasked with creating an application process for municipalities to demonstrate compliance with these new land-use regulations, which can be submitted annually to potentially improve their chances of receiving infrastructure funding.

Government Affairs

https://www.ncleg.gov/BillLookUp/2025/H626