This post is Part 3 of a multi-part series. For a more detailed explanation and legal analysis of the issues discussed in this blog post series (including citations to cases referenced in the post), please see Local Government Law Bulletin … Read more

This post is Part 2 of a multi-part series. For a more detailed explanation and legal analysis of the issues discussed in this blog post series (including citations to cases referenced in the post), please see Local Government Law Bulletin … Read more

This post is Part 1 of a multi-part series. For a more detailed explanation and legal analysis of the issues discussed in this blog post series (including citations to cases referenced in the post), please see Local Government Law Bulletin … Read more

As the number of Airbnb and other short-term rentals continues to increase across North Carolina, more local governments grow concerned about the regulation and taxation of these properties. To help, my School of Government faculty colleague Rebecca Badgett and I … Read more

Which of the following proposed transactions require that the local government or public authority first seek approval from the State’s Local Government Commission (LGC)? 1. The Town of Blowing Rocks borrows $1 million from a local credit union to make … Read more

During its 2022 “short session,” the General Assembly has revisited the Current Operations Appropriations Act of 2021 (also known as the 2021 budget) and enacted, to date, 75 session laws. This blog post summarizes legislative action taken thus far during … Read more

Sales tax rates are not uniform across North Carolina’s 100 counties.  In some counties, the combined rate of sales tax is as high as 7.5%, while in others that rate is as low as 6.75%.  Why?  “Local option” sales taxes. … Read more

Update: This post has been revised to use the term “Mpox” in place of “monkeypox.” This change is consistent with guidance issued by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Introduction Due to a … Read more

Marty McFlight is a Washington D.C.-based business consultant who travels to Raleigh once per month.  In August, Marty flew from Washington to Raleigh-Durham International Airport (“RDU”) for a day-long visit to his client’s Raleigh headquarters.  For his subsequent September client … Read more

NOTE: This blog has been updated to reflect current events and General Statute citations. The majority of the blog text is attributable to Norma Houston. Updates have been provided by Kate Van Tol. As Ian approaches the Carolina’s and we … Read more

Local governments and local government officials are increasingly using social media as a way to engage with the public. As anyone who has scrolled through Facebook or Twitter lately can attest, comment sections on social media posts are often filled … Read more

Malcolm Tucker runs a small nightclub. He recently put up a billboard advertising his business on the main road leading into town. The billboard is garish to say the least. It is bright orange and uses vulgar language and suggestive … Read more

As detailed in previous posts, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (ARP/CSLFRF) allows local governments to spend their allocations on eligible projects within four major expenditure groupings: Addressing the COVID-19 public health … Read more

Can a sign ordinance distinguish between on-premises and off-premises signs? The answer is yes according to U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in City of Austin v. Reagan National Advertising of Austin, LLC, 142 S. Ct. 1464 (2022). This blog outlines the … Read more

On August 15, 2022, a two-year-long state of emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic came to an end in North Carolina. Among the effects of the end of the state of emergency is an end to extensions (and in some … Read more

Rental units, be they long-term rentals owned by institutional investors or short-term rentals on platforms like Airbnb, represent a growing share of North Carolina’s housing stock.  This is true in big cities like Charlotte, where corporate landlords have purchased tens … Read more

Does this person need to take an oath of office? This is by far the most frequent oaths of office question I receive. My colleagues Trey Allen and David Lawrence have written excellent blogs (here and here) on this very … Read more

On July 11, 2022, Governor Cooper’s office published a press release indicating that the statewide state of emergency will end on August 15, 2022.  At that point, Section 166A-19.24, which provides explicit authority for remote meetings, will expire. Many elected … Read more

North Carolina has been under a state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic for nearly two and a half years. On July 11, a press release from the Governor’s Office said that North Carolina’s state of emergency due to … Read more

In recent months, my colleagues and I have received an increasing number of questions about how to handle hostile, harassing, or threatening behavior from citizens. The scenarios encountered by local government officials and employees include a wide range of behavior: … Read more