Coates' Canons:
NC Local Government Law
About this Blog
About the Authors
»
Land Use & Code Enforcement
»
Calculating the Majority Vote Required for Variances and Development Regulation Amendments
»
Permit Choice Rule for Development Regulations
»
What Conditions Can Be Included in Conditional Zoning?
»
Administrative Minor Modifications of Development Approvals
»
Major Amendments to Approved Developments
»
Impermissible Considerations for Legislative Development Decisions
»
Legislature Decriminalizes Local Ordinances
»
Considerations for Legislative Development Decisions
»
Procedures for Legislative Development Decisions
»
Types of Development Decisions
»
Comprehensive Plans and Land Use Plans Required for Zoning
»
Public Meetings After the Lifting of the State-Level State of Emergency
»
Extension Extended: General Assembly Expands Development Permit Extension
»
Chapter 160D Deadlines and Transitions
»
Understanding the Legal Basis for the Strike Down of Wilmington’s Short-Term Rental Ordinance
»
A Pause in the Legislative Session
»
Chapter 160D Now Effective
»
Remote Zoning Hearings during Declared Emergencies
»
160D Extension, Maps by Reference, and Permit Extensions due to COVID-19
»
New Rules for Meetings of Public Bodies During State-Level Declared Emergencies
»
STR Regulations Found Unconstitutional in Texas: Renting Property is a Fundamental Privilege of Property Ownership
»
Remote Participation in Quasi-Judicial Evidentiary Hearings
»
Local Government as Lender: Emergency Loans for Small Businesses
»
Downtown Facade Improvement Programs
»
Chapter 160D and Other Zoning Legislation
»
Regulation of Short-Term Rentals and the Effect of S.L. 2019-73
»
Syringe Exchange Programs and Land Use Zoning
»
Disaster Recovery Legislation Imposes Building Permit and Inspection Fee Moratorium Effective NOW
»
Temporary Signs in the Right-of-Way
»
Temporary Housing and Zoning Amendments
»
Administering Development Regulations and Accounting for Permitting Fees
»
Residential Zoning Ordinances and Short-Term Rentals: Square Peg, Round Hole?
»
Receivership: A New Tool for Addressing Vacant Problem Properties in North Carolina
»
Maintenance of vacant or neglected commercial buildings: options for NC local governments
»
The Airbnb Gold Rush: What’s a City to Do?
»
Local Government Owners of Historic Property Asked to Convey Property by End of 2017: What Public Officials Should Know
»
Satellite Area Boundaries are Corporate Limits, But Not for Purposes of Contiguous Annexation or ETJ.
»
Tick Tock! The Clock Is Now Running for Zoning Enforcement
»
Legal and Business Reasons Why Downtown Development Programs Should Involve Secured Loans—Not Grants
»
Statues and Statutes: Limits on Removing Monuments from Public Property
»
Conveyance of property in a public-private partnership for a “downtown development project”
»
A Statutory Modification for Plan Consistency Statements
»
Subdivision Legislation: An Old Exemption and a New Expedited Review
»
Does the HB2 Repeal Limit Zoning Authority?
»
May a City Mow an Overgrown Lot without a Court Order?
»
What is the “special character” of the historic district?
»
Periodic Inspections, Permits, and Registration of Residential Rental Property: Changes in 2017
»
The Tortoise, the Hare, and Demolition in Historic Districts
»
Can the neighbor speak? Can the neighbor appeal? Standing and quasi-judicial hearings
»
Administrative Modifications in Subdivision and Zoning Ordinances
»
Municipalities (and Counties) Not Authorized to Charge Certain Impact (aka Capacity, System Development) Fees
»
Interpreting the Zoning Ordinance
»
HB 2 and Bathrooms: What Must North Carolina Units of Government Do Now?
»
Making Sense of Subdivision
»
The General Assembly Preempts Local Antidiscrimination Measures
»
What Does the Farm Exemption from Zoning Regulation Include?
»
Advisory Board Review of Quasi-judicial Decisions
»
Dealing with Land Uses Not Specifically Addressed in a Zoning Ordinance: The Saga Continues
»
Repealing Ordinances
»
Local Government Economic Development Powers “Clarified”
»
Voting Rules, Monuments, and Beehives: Miscellaneous Changes to Local Government Laws
»
Cash Grants for Real Estate Developers without Competition for Jobs—A Constitutional Quandary
»
Annexation Agreements for Economic Development – Not an Option
»
Subdivision Performance Guarantees: Legislative Changes
»
Business Registration Programs: 10 Questions and Answers
»
Can the City Tell Me What My New House Has to Look Like?
»
Sign Litigation: A Brief Analysis of Reed v. Town of Gilbert
»
Subdivision Performance Guarantees: A Little More Clarity
»
Origins of Legislation to Reorganize and Modernize NC Planning and Development Regulation Statutes
»
Building the Record for a Quasi-Judicial Decision
»
Voting Rules for Adopting Ordinances
»
Sale of Historic Structures by NC Local Governments for Redevelopment
»
Can We Close That Old Street Right-of-Way?
»
Consistently Inconsistent? Considering Consistency Statements for Zoning Amendments
»
Meet the Granny Pod: New Zoning Protection for Temporary Family Health Care Structures
»
King v. Town of Chapel Hill: The Supreme Court Issues a Major Decision on the Police Power of Local Governments (Part 2)
»
Subdivision Plat Approval: What type of decision is it?
»
Requirements for Quasi-Judicial Decision Documents
»
King v. Town of Chapel Hill: The Supreme Court Issues a Major Decision on the Police Power of Local Governments (Part 1)
»
Acquiring real property for redevelopment—can local governments keep it confidential?
»
Variance Standards: What is hardship? And when is it unnecessary?
»
Stay What? Placing Development on Hold While Appeals Are Pending
»
Can Outside Material be Incorporated by Reference into Local Development Regulations?
»
Keep Your Distance: Requirements to Keep Certain Land Uses Apart
»
Can a Property Owner Be Cited for a Zoning Violation by a Tenant?
»
Solar Farms and Solar Rooftops
»
How a North Carolina Local Government Can Operate a Land Bank for Redevelopment
»
Accessory Uses and Structures in the Zoning Ordinance: Eight Things to Remember
»
Subdivision Performance Guarantees
»
Mandated Notices in Land Development Regulations
»
What You Need to Know about Driveway Permits and Road Access: Part I
»
Relinquishing Extraterritorial Planning Jurisdiction
»
Demolition and Code Enforcement Involving Historic Districts and Landmarks
»
Choosing the Right Development Review Process: Factors to Consider
»
Historic Preservation Commission Basics
»
Sidewalk Dining: Some Questions and Answers
»
Do You Have to Swear to Tell the Truth to the Board of Adjustment?
»
Nuisance Abatement and Local Governments: What a Mess – Part II
»
Planning Board Basics
»
Protest Petitions No Longer Allowed in North Carolina
»
The Koontz Decision and Implications for Development Exactions
»
BOA Changes Are Coming
»
Determining and Distinguishing Land Uses
»
A Few Thoughts on Community Appearance and Design Controls
»
Rick’s Cafe Experiences Growing Pains
»
What Do You Mean I Can’t Start Up My Business Again?
»
Is it a land use yet?
»
Can We Top Off Our Tower?
»
When is That Guy Going to Finish His Remodeling Job??
»
How Much Repair is Too Much Repair?
»
Exactions and Subdivision Approval
»
Can the Board Go Into a Closed Session to Deliberate a Quasi-Judicial Decision?
»
Which City and County Ordinances Apply in the ETJ?
»
“Bah, Humbug” Gamers Say: Video Sweepstakes Statute Upheld
»
Did the NC Supreme Court put cash economic development incentives in jeopardy?
»
Who says I can’t rezone my rezoning?
»
A Conditional What? Clarifying Some Confusing Zoning Terminology
»
School Impact Fees and Development Regulations: Another Round
»
Quasi-Judicial Zoning Decisions and Property Values: Whose Opinion Counts?
»
Local government assistance for a real estate development project—without making a grant
»
When Can a Biased Elected Official Participate in a Zoning Decision?
»
Can We Consider Ownership in a Zoning Decision?
»
Can We Continue this Zoning Hearing?
»
Who is an owner “of record” to be served with complaints and orders under NC minimum housing codes?
»
Can Time Limits be Imposed on Speakers at a Zoning Hearing?
»
Can a Group Home be Zoned Out of the Neighborhood?
»
Land Use Regulation of Internet Sweepstakes Cafes
»
Zoning Ordinance Amendments and Plan Consistency Statements
»
Targeting Troubled Neighborhoods for Housing Code Inspections
»
Does the County Have to Comply with City Zoning?
»
Can I Be Heard? Who Gets to Speak at a Hearing on a Quasi-judicial Matter?
»
Building Occupancy and Turning on the Juice
»
Tolling Ends, But Permit Extension Law Leaves Many Approvals in Place
»
Ensuring Local Policy Complies with New Residential Inspections Law
»
Preoccupied with Occupancy Certificates: Part I
»
Can We Prohibit Offensive Signs?
»
Signs of the Times: The Regulation of Political Signs
»
Amending an Approved Project
»
Minimum Housing: A Way Around Residential Inspection Limits?
»
What If a Proposed Rezoning Is Inconsistent With Our Plan?
»
Local Governments and the Special Status of Bona Fide Farms
»
Is the Mayor Doing Her Job or Improperly Receiving Evidence?
»
Rezoning Conditions Done Right
»
Nuisance Abatement and Local Governments: What a Mess
»
Can We Add a Condition to this Rezoning?
»
Land Subdivision Ordinances: The Regulatory Exceptions
»
This Letter Deserves More Attention
»
Subdivision Ordinances: What’s Regulated, What’s Not
»
Can a City Really Zone Land Outside the City?
»
Outdoor Advertising: Winning the Preemption Game
»
Is This Spot Legal?
»
Zoning and Satellite Annexations
»
Is this letter worth the paper it’s printed on?
»
Snakes with Too Much for Dinner: Conforming to the Transportation Plan
»
But I Already Bought the Lot and Had the Plans Made
»
Zoning Variances: Is It Better to Ask for Forgiveness than Permission?
»
Club-A-Gone-Gone?
»
A Primer on Inclusionary Zoning
»
Hardship, Reasonable Use of Land, and Zoning Variances
»
If We Can’t Collect a Fee, Can We Just Say No? Use of Impact Fees and Adequate Public Facility Regulatory Requirements
»
Yer Cheat’n Heart, Tattoos, the First Amendment, and Preemption
»
How Much is Too Much for That Application Fee?
»
A Shot across the Bow of the Zoning Ship?
»
(Electronic) Notice of Subdivision Construction Development Fees Revisited
»
Zoning Religious Land Uses
»
Extending Permit Extension
»
Can the Town Require This Religious Use to Get a Special Use Permit?
»
Local Historic Preservation Districts and Landmarks: Three Frequently Asked Questions
»
A Topless Bar in Our Fair Town?
»
Zoning and North Carolina’s Fair Housing Act
»
Does Zoning Have to Provide a Place for Everything?
»
Campaign Signs and Local Land-Use Ordinances
»
Singled Out. A Problem in Enforcement?
»
Can We Hit the Pause Button on Development Approvals?
»
Civil Penalties and Zoning: Why Fight ‘Em, Just Cite ‘Em
»
Repairing unfit houses—and then recouping the costs
»
Fixing an Error on a Zoning Map
»
Administrative Decisions by the Planning and Zoning Staff: Who is in the Loop?
»
Wireless Telecommunications Facilities: Can North Carolina Communities Avoid Shot-Clock Violations?
»
Placing conditions on a conditional or special use permit approval.
»
Do We Have to Hold Another Hearing on this Zoning Case?
»
Are Adequate-Public-Facility Ordinances Adequate?
»
Wouldn’t It Be Nice? Agreements on Large-Scale Development
»
Just Say No: The Denial of a Rezoning Petition
»
Can the Opinions of Neighbors be Considered in a Zoning Hearing?
»
Cyber-Sweepstakes Anyone?
»
What needs to be in the notice of a zoning hearing?
»
New Electronic Notice of Imposition or Increase in Fees Applicable to Construction of Development: Part I
»
The Land Development Permit Extension Legislation: Some Applications and Examples
»
New Life for Old Development Approvals
»
Local Police-Power Ordinances: Whatever Has Happened to Them?
Blog Topics
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funding
(10)
[+]
Animal Services
(12)
Administration
(11)
Animal Shelters
(5)
Cruelty & Fighting
(2)
Dangerous Animals
(3)
Miscellaneous
(4)
Nuisance Animals
(1)
Rabies Control
(3)
[+]
Board Structure & Procedures
(105)
Agency Administration
(6)
Appointments & Oaths
(11)
Board Member Powers & Authority
(26)
Board Structures
(8)
Boards of Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, & Substance Abuse
(1)
Boards of Public Health
(5)
Boards of Social Services
(6)
Constitutional Issues
(4)
Miscellaneous
(12)
Motions, Minutes, & Hearings
(24)
Quorum & Voting Requirements
(26)
[+]
Community & Economic Development
(62)
Affordable Housing & Minimum Housing Codes
(16)
Community Development & Redevelopment
(22)
Development Finance
(21)
Downtown Revitalization
(14)
Economic Development
(23)
Grants
(8)
Miscellaneous
(2)
[+]
Elections
(54)
Campaign Signs
(3)
Conflicts
(1)
Elections Administration
(10)
Federal Regulations
(8)
Local Board of Elections
(5)
Miscellaneous
(8)
Redistricting
(9)
Removal of Elected Officials
(4)
Terms of Office
(7)
Voting
(17)
[+]
Emergency Management
(27)
Emergency Ordinances
(10)
Emergency Restrictions
(12)
Miscellaneous
(3)
State of Emergency
(15)
[+]
Employment
(67)
Compensation & Benefits
(24)
Discipline & Discharge
(11)
Fair Labor Standards Act
(9)
Family & Medical Leave Act
(8)
Freedom of Speech
(5)
Medical Inquiries & Medical Testing
(13)
Miscellaneous
(14)
Recruitment & Selection
(5)
Searches & Drug Testing
(2)
[+]
Ethics & Conflicts
(45)
Codes of Ethics
(2)
Conflicts of Interest
(20)
Ethics Training
(3)
Federal Granting Requirements
(1)
Gifts & Favors
(2)
Lobbying
(1)
Miscellaneous
(6)
Professional Responsibility for Government Attorneys
(13)
State Ethics Act
(2)
Voting
(2)
[+]
Finance & Tax
(343)
Accounting, Reporting, Auditing
(6)
Bankruptcy
(1)
Borrowing Money / Issuing Debt
(11)
Budeting & Appropriations
(31)
Cash Management & Investments
(6)
Collections & Foreclosure
(2)
Constitutional Issues
(8)
County Finance
(5)
Development Finance
(27)
Energy Finance
(2)
Expenditure Control & Preaudit
(12)
Fees, Charges, Penalties
(18)
Financial Management & Oversight
(8)
Fire Protection Funding
(3)
Miscellaneous
(1)
Municipal Finance
(7)
Privilege License Taxes
(14)
Property Taxes
(161)
Public Authority Finance
(21)
Public Enterprise / Utility Finance
(39)
Public School Finance
(14)
Sales & Other Local Taxes
(11)
Solid Waste Finance
(14)
Special Assessments
(10)
Special Taxing Districts
(10)
State-shared Revenue
(4)
[+]
General Local Government (Miscellaneous)
(194)
Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC)
(3)
Annexation
(9)
Legislation
(20)
Litigation
(7)
Miscellaneous
(21)
[+]
Land Use & Code Enforcement
(191)
Administration & Enforcement
(29)
Constitutional & Statutory Limitations
(13)
Development Fees
(5)
Downtown Revitalization
(15)
Land Subdivision
(14)
Legislative Decisions
(15)
Miscellaneous
(1)
Planning
(14)
Police Power Regulations
(9)
Quasi-Judicial Decisions
(18)
Zoning
(46)
[+]
Liability & Immunity
(8)
Governmental & Sovereign Immunity
(5)
Governmental vs. Proprietary Functions
(4)
[+]
Open Government
(132)
Employees & Social Media
(2)
Miscellaneous
(4)
Open Meetings
(50)
Public Hearings
(13)
Public Records (Electronic)
(22)
Public Records (Financial)
(6)
Public Records (General)
(45)
Public Records (Personnel)
(25)
Public Records (Retention)
(6)
[+]
Ordinances & Police Powers
(48)
Constitutional Issues
(7)
Enforcement
(13)
Miscellaneous
(3)
Nuisance Abatement
(5)
Statutory Authority & Construction
(16)
Streets & Parking
(7)
[+]
Public Health
(72)
Agency Administration
(16)
Animal Law
(4)
Boards of Public Health
(15)
Communicable Diseases
(29)
Environmental Health
(7)
Health Information & Records
(10)
Miscellaneous
(5)
Smoking Laws
(8)
Vaccines
(4)
[+]
Purchasing, Construction, Property Transactions
(78)
Bidding & Bidding Exceptions
(22)
Conflicts
(4)
Construction Contracts
(19)
Contract Requirements
(22)
Design Services / Mini-Brooks Act
(8)
Disposal of Property / Surplus Property
(17)
Federal Grant Requirements
(4)
HUBs
(3)
Immigration Issues
(1)
Local Preferences
(7)
Miscellaneous
(8)
Purchasing / Purchase Contracts / Purchase Orders
(13)
[+]
Social Services
(26)
Adult Protective Services
(5)
Agency Administration
(13)
Boards of Social Services
(7)
Child Welfare
(6)
Confidentiality
(6)
Miscellaneous
(4)
Public Assistance
(2)
Public Guardianship
(4)
Author Archives
Trey Allen
(
RSS
) (33)
Rebecca Badgett
(
RSS
) (13)
Fleming Bell
(
RSS
) (4)
Guest Blogger
(
RSS
) (3)
Frayda Bluestein
(
RSS
) (149)
Mark Botts
(
RSS
) (1)
Connor Crews
(
RSS
) (3)
Michael Crowell
(
RSS
) (16)
Sara DePasquale
(
RSS
) (6)
Shea Denning
(
RSS
) (5)
Richard Ducker
(
RSS
) (37)
Margaret Henderson
(
RSS
) (2)
Norma Houston
(
RSS
) (50)
Jim Joyce
(
RSS
) (1)
Robert Joyce
(
RSS
) (62)
Diane Juffras
(
RSS
) (35)
David Lawrence
(
RSS
) (20)
Adam Lovelady
(
RSS
) (47)
James Markham
(
RSS
) (1)
Chris McLaughlin
(
RSS
) (198)
Kara Millonzi
(
RSS
) (147)
Jill Moore
(
RSS
) (45)
Tyler Mulligan
(
RSS
) (42)
Kristi Nickodem
(
RSS
) (3)
David Owens
(
RSS
) (67)
Chuck Szypszak
(
RSS
) (1)
Aimee Wall
(
RSS
) (48)
Kristina Wilson
(
RSS
) (1)
Eileen R Youens
(
RSS
) (34)
Post Archives
Post Archives
Select Month
December 2021
November 2021
October 2021
September 2021
August 2021
July 2021
June 2021
May 2021
April 2021
March 2021
February 2021
January 2021
December 2020
November 2020
October 2020
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020
January 2020
December 2019
November 2019
October 2019
September 2019
August 2019
June 2019
May 2019
April 2019
February 2019
January 2019
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
September 2018
August 2018
July 2018
June 2018
May 2018
April 2018
March 2018
February 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
November 2012
October 2012
September 2012
August 2012
July 2012
June 2012
May 2012
April 2012
March 2012
February 2012
January 2012
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
August 2011
July 2011
June 2011
May 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
December 2010
November 2010
October 2010
September 2010
August 2010
July 2010
June 2010
May 2010
April 2010
March 2010
February 2010
January 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009
September 2009
August 2009