A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO DECRIMINALIZE CERTAIN LOCAL ORDINANCES AND to PROVIDE COMPLIANCE AS A DEFENSE TO AN ORDINANCE VIOLATION.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.(a)  G.S. 153A‑123 reads as rewritten:
"§ 153A‑123.  Enforcement of ordinances.
…
(b)	Except for the types of ordinances listed in subsection (b1) of this section, violation of a county ordinance may be a misdemeanor or infraction as provided by G.S. 14‑4 only if the county specifies such in the ordinance. An ordinance may provide by express statement that the maximum fine, term of imprisonment, or infraction penalty to be imposed for a violation is some amount of money or number of days less than the maximum imposed by G.S. 14‑4. Notwithstanding G.S. 153A‑45, no ordinance specifying a criminal penalty may be enacted at the meeting in which it is first introduced.
(b1)	No ordinance of the following types may impose a criminal penalty:
(1)	Any ordinance adopted under Article 18 of this Chapter, Planning and Regulation of Development or, its successor, Chapter 160D of the General Statutes, except for those ordinances related to unsafe buildings.
(2)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 153A‑134, Regulating and licensing businesses, trades, etc.
(3)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 153A‑138, Registration of mobile homes, house trailers, etc.
(4)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 153A‑140.1, Stream‑clearing programs.
(5)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 153A‑143, Regulation of outdoor advertising or, its successor, G.S. 160D‑912, Outdoor advertising.
(6)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 153A‑144, Limitations on regulating solar collectors or, its successor, G.S. 160D‑914, Solar collectors.
(7)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 153A‑145, Limitations on regulating cisterns and rain barrels.
(8)	Any ordinance regulating trees.
…."
SECTION 1.(b)  G.S. 160A‑175 reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑175.  Enforcement of ordinances.
…
(b)	Except for the types of ordinances listed in subsection (b1) of this section, violation of a city ordinance may be a misdemeanor or infraction as provided by G.S. 14‑4 only if the city specifies such in the ordinance. An ordinance may provide by express statement that the maximum fine, term of imprisonment, or infraction penalty to be imposed for a violation is some amount of money or number of days less than the maximum imposed by G.S. 14‑4. Notwithstanding G.S. 160A‑75, no ordinance specifying a criminal penalty may be enacted at the meeting in which it is first introduced.
(b1)	No ordinance of the following types may impose a criminal penalty:
(1)	Any ordinance adopted under Article 19 of this Chapter, Planning and Regulation of Development, or its successor, Chapter 160D of the General Statutes, except for those ordinances related to unsafe buildings.
(2)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑193.1, Stream‑clearing programs.
(3)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑194, Regulating and licensing businesses, trades, etc.
(4)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑199, Regulation of outdoor advertising or, its successor, G.S. 160D‑912, Outdoor advertising.
(5)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑201, Limitations on regulating solar collectors or, its successor, G.S. 160D‑914, Solar collectors.
(6)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑202, Limitations on regulating cisterns and rain barrels.
(7)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑304, Regulation of taxis.
(8)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑306, Building setback lines.
(9)	Any ordinance adopted pursuant to G.S. 160A‑307, Curb cut regulations.
(10)	Any ordinance regulating trees.
…."
SECTION 1.(c)  G.S. 14‑4 reads as rewritten:
"§ 14‑4.  Violation of local ordinances misdemeanor.
(a)	Except as provided in this section, if any person shall violate an ordinance of a county, city, town, or metropolitan sewerage district created under Article 5 of Chapter 162A, he shall be guilty of a Class 3 misdemeanor and shall be fined not more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). No fine shall exceed fifty dollars ($50.00) unless the ordinance expressly states that the maximum fine is greater than fifty dollars ($50.00).
(b)	If any person shall violate an ordinance of a county, city, or town regulating the operation or parking of vehicles, he shall be responsible for an infraction and shall be required to pay a penalty of not more than fifty dollars ($50.00).
(c)	A person may not be found responsible or guilty of a local ordinance violation if, when tried for that violation, the person produces proof of compliance with the local ordinance through any of the following:
(1)	No new alleged violations of the local ordinance within 30 days from the date of the initial alleged violation.
(2)	The person provides proof of a good‑faith effort to seek assistance to address any underlying factors related to unemployment, homelessness, mental health, or substance abuse that might relate to the person's ability to comply with the local ordinance."
SECTION 2.  This act becomes effective December 1, 2021, and applies to offenses and violations committed on or after that date.