Carolina County has been working with its largest municipality, Tar Heel Town, to  redevelop one of Tar Heel Town’s more dilapidated neighborhoods.  Many of the properties in this neighborhood are owned by absentee landlords who fail to maintain them properly.  … Read more

A county ambulance crew member calls Fiona, the county finance officer, at 9pm on Sunday night. The crew just responded to their third call of the night and he needs to refuel the ambulance. Fiona grabs a copy of the county’s budget … Read more

“Annexation” is the incorporation of new territory into an existing city. North Carolina allows three methods of annexation:  1) city-initiated (“involuntary”), 2) by petition from property-owners or residents (“voluntary”), and 3) by act of the General Assembly (“legislative”). The General … Read more

[Update: On October 23, 2013, the North Carolina Division of Public Health issued a position statement on the change to the definition of “private club” in the food and lodging laws. The statement specifies that an establishment must have a … Read more

UPDATE February 2017:  In July 2016 the federal Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an injunction against elements of the 2013 legislation, prohibiting enforcement of the photo ID requirement described in this post.  The matter is before the United States … Read more

Beginning October 1, 2013, individuals in North Carolina will be able to sign up to purchase private health insurance through the federal “marketplace” or “exchange” established under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA or ACA). Some individuals will be … Read more

Note: This post has been replaced by this updated post:   Calculating the Majority Vote Required for Variances and Development Regulation Amendments    

One of the basic principles of local government law in North Carolina is that cities and counties have only those powers delegated to them by the General Assembly.  Another is that any action taken by a local government must be … Read more

“The historical heritage of our State is one of our most valued and important assets,” and our cities and counties are authorized to safeguard that heritage and promote the use and conservation of North Carolina’s historic landmarks and districts (G.S. … Read more

Do county property tax officials have the right to enter private property for appraisal purposes? This question keeps popping up in my in-box and on the Ptax listserv.  With good reason, too, because state law doesn’t offer a quick answer.  … Read more