GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2015

SESSION LAW 2015-19

HOUSE BILL 706

AN ACT to require the Building Code Council to amend the NORTH CAROLINA Building Code to exempt open Air camp cabins from certain requirements of the Code.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  Definitions. – As used in this act, "Council" means the Building Code Council, "Code" means the current North Carolina Building Code as adopted by the Council, and "open air camp cabin" means a single-story structure that (i) has three walls consisting of at least twenty percent (20%) screened openings no more than 44 inches above the floor; (ii) has no heating or cooling system; (iii) is occupied for no more than 150 days within any rolling 365-day time span; and (iv) accommodates 36 or fewer persons.

SECTION 2.  New Code amendment. – Until the effective date of the Code amendment that the Council is required to adopt pursuant to Section 4 of this act, the Council and local governments enforcing the Code shall follow the provisions of Section 3 of this act with respect to open air camp cabins.

SECTION 3.  Implementation. – Notwithstanding any provision of the Code to the contrary, the Council shall not enforce any requirements more stringent than the following for open air camp cabins:

(1)        The open air camp cabin shall have at least two remote unimpeded exits, but lighted exit signs shall not be required.

(2)        The open air camp cabin shall not be required to have plumbing or electrical systems, but if the cabin has these systems, then the provisions of the Code otherwise applicable to those systems shall apply.

(3)        Smoke detectors and handheld fire extinguishers may be required as otherwise provided in the Code, but no requirement for a sprinkler system shall be imposed.

SECTION 4.  Rule‑making authority. – Notwithstanding G.S. 150B‑19(4), the Commission shall adopt rules establishing a new residential occupancy category under Section 310 of the Code for open air camp cabins that are substantively identical to the provisions of Section 3 of this act.

SECTION 5.  Sunset. – Section 3 of this act expires on the date that rules adopted pursuant to Section 4 of this act become effective.

SECTION 6.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 7^th day of May, 2015.

                                                                    s/  Daniel J. Forest

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/  Tim Moore

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

                                                                    s/  Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

Approved 3:30 p.m. this 14^th day of May, 2015