Adds a new GS 160D-402.1 to require local governments, within two business days of receiving an application for development approval, to complete an administrative review of the application and either (1) notify the developer in writing that the application is complete and no further information is required for the local government to make a determination on the application; or (2) notify the developer in writing that the application is deficient and provide a written deficiency list that identifies each deficiency; the specific law, ordinance, policy, or procedure used as the basis for each deficiency; and a description of the action the local government would deem corrective for each deficiency. Such a deficiency notice may provide recommendations, but those must be clearly designated as recommended or advisory only and may not be required as a condition of development approval.
In response to a deficiency list, a developer may correct the application and resubmit the corrected application to the local government, submit a written explanation for each deficiency and request another administrative review within two business days, or appeal the administrative decision as provided by GS 160D-405.
If a developer submits a corrected application, within two business days of receiving a corrected application the local government must notify the applicant in writing that (i) the application is complete and no further information is required or (ii) the revised application does not correct all of the deficiencies identified in the deficiency notice. If the corrected application was amended or altered in a way not related to the identified deficiencies, the local government must consider the corrected application to be a new application.
Local governments may contract with the Department of Insurance and its marketplace pool of qualified code-enforcement officials or contract with a licensed professional engineer or licensed architect to perform independent third-party plan reviews.
If the local government does not issue a decision or determines that it is unable to complete review within the two-business-day time frame, the permit applicant may contract with the Department of Insurance and its marketplace pool of qualified code-enforcement officials or contract with a licensed professional engineer or licensed architect to perform independent third-party plan reviews. If the applicant does so, the applicant must submit to the local government a written certification by the independent plan reviewer that plans comply with applicable building codes and other state and local laws. Upon accepting such a certification, the local government must issue applicable permits within two business days and refund or waive applicable plan review and permit fees.
Third-party plan reviewers must avoid conflicts of interest in conducting reviews under this section. Conflicts include when a plan reviewer has any financial interest in—or is employed (other than as a third-party plan reviewer) by a business that has a financial interest in—providing labor, material, or appliances for construction, alteration, maintenance of, or an involvement in making of plans or specifications for the project subject to review.
GS 160D-402.1 would not apply to permit applications submitted pursuant to GS 160D-1110.1.
Amends GS 160D-1110(b) to require that, if a local government chooses to review residential building plans for structures subject to the North Carolina Residential Code, the local government must meet the initial review deadline of GS 160D-402.1.
Amends GS 160D-1104 to add a requirement that inspection departments make inspections within two business days of the first request for an inspection or notify the permit holder if an inspection cannot be completed within two business days of the first request for an inspection.
Makes the following conforming changes to statutes regarding North Carolina Code Officials Qualification Board (the Board): amends the definition of “code enforcement” in GS 143-151.8(a)(3) to add persons contracting with a local government or permit applicant to perform third-party plan reviews under GS 160D-402.1; amends GS 143-151.12 to allow the Board to establish a marketplace pool of qualified code enforcement officials when requested by a permit applicant under GS 160D-402.1; and amends GS 143-151.13 to permit a licensed architect or licensed professional engineer who possesses a valid certificate but is not employed by the State or a local government to use that certificate for the limited purpose of performing independent plan reviews under GS 160D-402.1.
Becomes effective December 1, 2025, and applies to applications submitted on or after that date.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 160D-1110, 160D-1104, 143-151.8, 143-151.12, 143-151.13
Edition 1: 160D-1110, 160D-1104, 143-151.8, 143-151.12, 143-151.13