CLARIFY EMERG. COMM. EXEMPTIONS/FIRE CODE.

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View NCGA Bill Details(link is external)2025-2026 Session
House Bill 768 (Public) Filed Thursday, April 3, 2025
AN ACT TO DIRECT THE NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO ADOPT RULES TO AMEND THE STATE BUILDING CODE AND STATE FIRE CODE TO CLARIFY EXEMPTIONS FROM IN-BUILDING EMERGENCY RESPONDER COMMUNICATION COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.
Intro. by Brody, Cotham, Zenger, Winslow.

Status: Re-ref Com On Emergency Management and Disaster Recovery (House action) (Apr 17 2025)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

Previous title was AN ACT TO DIRECT THE NORTH CAROLINA BUILDING CODE COUNCIL TO ADOPT RULES TO AMEND THE STATE BUILDING CODE AND STATE FIRE PREVENTION CODE TO CLARIFY EXEMPTIONS FROM IN-BUILDING EMERGENCY RESPONDER RADIO COVERAGE REQUIREMENTS.

H 768

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: Apr 17 2025 - View Summary

    House committee substitute to the 1st edition makes the following changes.

    Makes conforming changes to act’s long and short titles. Changes the name of the defined term emergency responder radio coverage requirements to emergency responder communication coverage requirements (Requirements). Makes technical change to reference to NC Fire Code (was, NC Fire Prevention Code). Modifies the exemption to the Requirements pertaining to the NC Residential Code to specify that it covers buildings or structures subject to that code (was, buildings defined as one-family dwellings, two-family dwellings and townhouses). Clarifies that the act’s provisions apply notwithstanding any provisions of the NC Fire Code or any other provision of the NC Residential Code that might apply to obsolete systems, in addition to those listed. Makes conforming changes.


  • Summary date: Apr 7 2025 - View Summary

    Defines emergency responder radio coverage requirements (Requirements) to mean those requirements for in-building emergency responder communications enhancement systems specified under Section 510 of the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code (Code). Exempts four structures from the Requirements, including apartments and transients public lodging establishments that meet certain height or story requirements with the requisite egress. Directs that an emergency responder radio coverage system installed prior to the effective date of the act in a building or structure that meets the exemption criteria is not be required to be removed and allows those systems to be deactivated. Requires the Building Code Council to adopt rules to amend the Code in line with the provisions of the Requirements. Applies the APA’s effective date provisions triggered when 10 or more written objections are received to the rule (GS 150B-21.3). Specifies that the provisions of the APA requiring review by the rules commission do not applyUntil permanent rules are adopted as discussed above, instructs the Council and local governments enforcing the Code not to enforce the emergency responder radio coverage requirements against buildings and structures that meet the exemption criteria and instead allow for deactivation of such systems instead.