Bill Summary for H 488 (2023-2024)

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Summary date: 

Jun 8 2023

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2023-2024 Session
House Bill 488 (Public) Filed Monday, March 27, 2023
AN ACT TO REORGANIZE THE BUILDING CODE COUNCIL AND CREATE THE RESIDENTIAL CODE COUNCIL, TO AMEND VARIOUS PROVISIONS OF THE NORTH CAROLINA STATE BUILDING CODE AND LAND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS, AND TO INCREASE THE PROJECT COST MINIMUM FOR APPLICABILITY OF GENERAL CONTRACTOR LICENSING REQUIREMENTS.
Intro. by Brody, D. Hall, Cotham, Riddell.

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Bill summary

Senate committee substitute to the 4th edition makes the following changes.

Section 1.

Changes the member appointed to the Residential Code Council [Council] under GS 143-136.1(11) by now requiring that the councilmember appointed by the Governor to be a representative of the natural gas industry (was, a licensed architect who specializes in residential construction or a licensed professional engineer who specializes in residential construction).  

Changes the number of members appointed to initial terms of two years, four years, and six years by the Governor from one person per term length to two members per term length of two years and four years and three persons per term length of six years. 

Section 2.

Amends GS 87-1(a) (definition of general contractor) to increase the minimum value of the cost of the undertaking required for a person to qualify as a general contractor under the definition from $30,000 to $40,000. Amends GS 87-14 (registration for issuance of building permits) to increase the minimum value of the cost of the project that will require compliance with statutory requirements listed therein from $30,000 to $40,000.

Makes organizational changes to account for newly inserted amendments. Makes clarifying changes to effective date to account for reorganization of the section.  

Section 4.

Amends GS 143-138 (NC State Building Code [Code]) and GS 160D-1104(d) (preventing local governments from adopting certain resolutions without prior approval) to prevent a local government or the Code itself from requiring routine exterior sheathing inspections for structures or dwellings covered by the Code or North Carolina Residential Code only where the structure or dwelling is located in a region where the ultimate wind speed is less than 150 miles per hour (previous versions did not exclude regions where wind speed exceeds 150 miles per hour).   

Makes conforming changes to act’s long title.