UPDATED September 2017: As of October 1, 2017, the state legislature has further defined (and limited) the impact fee powers of a County Water and Sewer District. Click here for more info on the new law. An impact fee is … Read more

In anticipation of next week’s attachment and garnishment webinar, today’s post offers a summary of the basic rules governing this extremely effective and popular tax collection remedy.  Join us at the webinar for a more in-depth discussion of the A&G … Read more

When the legislature in 1959 extended zoning powers to counties, it was determined that farming should not be subject to county zoning regulation. Cities had been using zoning since 1923 to address “urban” issues such as the compatibility of adjacent … Read more

It is a crime to allow livestock to run at-large in North Carolina, with the exception of some remarkable horses on the Outer Banks. G.S. 68-16; G.S. 68-42. What’s a local government’s role with respect to these wandering animals? State … Read more

The number of lawyers using Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social media networks grows daily.  So too does the number of lawyers doing foolish and unethical things on those networks. In this post I highlight some of the more egregious … Read more

I am often asked about the steps that local governments may take to enforce their ordinances. This blog post describes the basic enforcement options available to cities and counties.  It is adapted from a section of my chapter General Ordinance … Read more