2026 State Legislation Compliance

Context

New North Carolina laws from the 2026 session that the city must adapt to, as laid out by staff: no-impact home-based businesses (effective July 7, 2026, no permit or application may be required); a ban on minimum off-street parking requirements from January 1, 2027; limits on stormwater triggers for redevelopment; longer challenge windows and automatic attorney fees in land use disputes; HB 376 (water and sewer affordability act: a third public hearing if outside-city rates exceed inside rates by more than 25%; Thomasville charges about 2.25 times, so it plans to freeze outside rates and raise inside rates over time); special assessment foreclosure priority (October 1); a pending truth-in-taxation bill requiring a separate tax-rate hearing and mailed notices (estimated $50,000 to $100,000 extra, unfunded); a proposed ETJ repeal; police special separation allowance and officer bonus changes; a 25 mph default speed limit on unpaved or unmarked roads from December 1, 2026; e-bike classes; and a non-ferrous metal theft offense. Also affected are the sanctuary policy rules and economic development incentive reporting (over $25,000 reported to the auditor).

Status

Staff are reviewing ordinances; a School of Government session on zoning changes is set for October 28. Council members asked that the separation allowance and downtown building policy go on the budget retreat agenda. A caption note: details come from auto-captions and bill numbers may be misheard.

Log

• 2026-10-06 - City Council - Staff briefing during the Personnel and Finance Committee on truth in taxation, HB 376, zoning, public safety and fire changes; the speed limit change needs staff to identify roads without centerlines and may miss December 1.
• 2026-08-17 - City Council - Misty Whitman listed the changes city ordinances must absorb (home businesses, parking, stormwater, water rates, assessments, separation allowance, sanctuary rules, incentive districts).