NAVIGABLE WATERS/PINE KNOLL SHORES.

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View NCGA Bill Details2025-2026 Session
House Bill 1218 (Local) Filed Monday, May 4, 2026
AN ACT TO PROVIDE THE TOWN OF PINE KNOLL SHORES WITH THE AUTHORITY TO PLACE AIDS AND MARKERS TO NAVIGATION
Intro. by Cairns.

Status: Ref To Com On Rules and Operations of the Senate (Senate action) (Jun 3 2026)

SOG comments (1):

Long title change

House committee substitute to the 1st edition changes the act's long title. Previous title was AN ACT TO PROVIDE THE TOWN OF PINE KNOLL SHORES WITH THE AUTHORITY TO PLACE AIDS TO NAVIGATION AND ESTABLISH NO-WAKE ZONES.

H 1218

Bill Summaries:

  • Summary date: May 19 2026 - View Summary

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

    Removes provisions of the act giving the Pine Knolls Shores' Board of Commissioners (Board) the authority to enact no-wake zones.

    Now requires the Board to identify the channel aids and markers by ordinance (was, by ordinance or resolution) as specified. Replaces references to “such buoys, beacons, or day marks” with “channel aids and markers, anchoring aids and markers, and navigational aids and markers” in provisions requiring the Board to identify the location of the aids and markers and to notify the described parties of the Board’s intent to place the aids and markers there.

    Modifies where the act intends to supersede GS 75A-15(a)(3) (was GS 75A-15(a) and (b)) to the navigable waters of canals and Bogue Sound with in the corporate limits and extraterritorial jurisdiction of Pine Knolls Shore (was, within the town limits).

    Makes technical and clarifying changes. Makes conforming change to act’s long title.   


  • Summary date: May 5 2026 - View Summary

    Empowers the Town of Pine Knoll Shores (Town) to make, adopt, and enforce ordinances for the navigable waters of canals and Bogue Sound within the corporate limit and extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Town concerning:

    (1)   Placement and maintenance of channel aids and markers, anchoring aids and markers, and navigational aids and markers in conformity with the US Aids to Navigation System and the rules of the Wildlife Resources Commission (WRC) as adopted for use on the waters of NC. Requires the Town Board of Commissioners (Board), by ordinance or resolution, to identify the location of the devices by use of Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates and to notify both the US Coast Guard and US Army Corps of Engineers in writing of the intent to place the devices, prior to doing so. Provides notice requirements.

    (2)   Enacting no-wake zones, areas where the speed of a vessel is limited to a no-wake speed as defined in GS 75A-2. Prior to designating areas as such, the Board, by ordinance or resolution, must identify the location of such areas by use of GPS coordinates and notify the WRC, US Coast Guard, and US Army Corps of Engineers in writing of the intent to make the designation. Requires such zones to be marked with buoys or markers in the style of no-wake zones marked and placed by WRC. Provides notice requirements.

    (3)   Enforcement of ordinances adopted under the authority of this act in accordance with GS 160A-175.

    Clarifies that this act is intended to supersede GS 75A-15(a) and (b) within Town limits, but that any other State or federal rule or regulation will supersede and prevail over a local ordinance to the extent of any conflict between the two.

    Provides that law enforcement officers of the Town, the Carteret County Sheriff’s Office, and WRC have authority to enforce any local ordinance adopted under the act’s authority.