Section 1. 
Enacts GS 143-151.22, which requires the NC Code Officials Qualification Board (Board) to consult with the Office of State Fire Marshal (Office) to develop and implement a Building Inspector Apprenticeship Program. Provides intentions of program and requirements for its structure.
Allows local government inspection departments to employ apprentice Code-enforcement officials that do not yet have standard certification to perform inspections under the direct supervision of a fully certified Code-enforcement official with a standard certificate of the appropriate type and level. Requires the Board to adopt rules to establish the terms of the apprenticeship. Provides list of the minimum terms that should be included. Permits the Board to issue apprenticeship certificates to those employed as an apprentice if the employing jurisdiction applies for it and the apprentice actively participates in required training and continues to make satisfactory progress in the program. Provides details for renewal or reissuing the certificate. Provides curriculum requirements. Allows an apprentice to sit for the appropriate State examination for standard certification or to qualify certification once the individual has completed the approved curriculum and meets any experience requirements set by the Board.
Permits the Office to provide financial assistance to encourage participation in the apprenticeship program. Subject to the availability of funds appropriated for this purpose, the Office may award local governments grants to support a portion of apprentice salary and training expenses with details on eligible expenses. Requires the Office to establish grant application guidelines with priority given to jurisdictions demonstrating significant inspector staffing needs. Requires the Board to review rules and criteria for issuance of standard certificates at levels II and III to eliminate or modify requirements that unnecessarily impede progression of Code-enforcement officials to higher levels; provides list of considerations for the Board as part of this review. Requires the Board to report findings and recommended statutory or rule changes to the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on General Government and the Fiscal Research Division by July 1, 2026. Clarifies that nothing in the statute will compromise State Building Code enforcement integrity and that apprentices cannot independently approve or sign off on Code compliance. Requires a supervising certified inspector to review and approve all inspections performed by an apprentice and places responsibility of decision on that supervisor.
Amends GS 143-151.13 adding an apprenticeship certificate issued pursuant to new GS 143-151.22 to the list of certificates that will permit a person to engage in Code enforcement. Adds new subsection (c1), to allow the Board to grant a standard certificate after successful completion of the Building Inspector Apprenticeship Program in lieu of the standard examination requirement so long as the individual also successfully completes a Board-approved competency evaluation. Requires the Board to establish rules governing the development, administration, and standards for passing such competency evaluation.
Appropriates $750,000 for 2025-26 from the General Fund to the Office of State Fire Marshal in the Department of Insurance, to establish and administer the Building Inspector Apprenticeship Program. Requires funds be used for program administration, coordination, and provision of training resources and local grant funds as described in GS 143-151.22(c) and (d). Requires the Department of Insurance to include an evaluation of program’s effectiveness, participation rates, impact on inspector availability, and recommendations for future funding needs in its annual budget request submitted to the Office of State Budget and Management and in any relevant reports to the Joint Legislative Oversight committee on General Government and the Fiscal Research Division. Effective July 1, 2025.
Permits Board, Office, and Department of Insurance to adopt rules necessary to implement the statute's provisions.  
Except as indicated above, effective October 1, 2025.
Section 2.
Enacts GS 143-151.23 requiring the Board to consult with the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and the Office to develop and implement the General Contractor to Inspector Transition Incentive Program. Provides purpose of the program. Requires an individual to, at a minimum, (1) hold a current, valid license in good standing issued by the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and any specific license classifications or experience levels suitable for transition as the Board may define in rules; (2) satisfy all general eligibility requirements for employment as a Code-enforcement official established by the employing jurisdiction and the Board; and (3) meet all prerequisites for obtaining certification as required by the Board, except as specifically modified for program participants to participate in the program.
Requires the program to incorporate incentives to facilitate the transition of eligible general contractors and provides a list of suggested incentives that includes recognition of experience, tailored training and assessment, direct eligibility for level II certification, expedited progression from level II to level III, and maintains competency standards. Provides details on each incentive listed and clarifies that the incentives provided are not limited to those listed. Requires the Board and Office to collaborate with the NC Licensing Board for General Contractors and relevant construction industry associations to promote awareness of the program and opportunities in Code enforcement among licensed general contractors. Mandates that the Board adopt rules necessary to implement these statutory provisions. Clarifies that nothing in this statute lowers the standards of competency required for Code-enforcement officials and that every program participant must meet qualification standards set by the Board for the applicable level of certification prior to independently performing Code enforcement duties that require it. Effective October 1, 2025.
Section 3.
Enacts GS 153A-100 which provides building inspector disciplinary procedures. Defines “building inspector” as any individual employed or contracted by the county who holds a valid certification issued by the Board and who is authorized by the county to enforce at least one provision of the State Building Code. Requires just cause finding to discharge, suspend, or demote a building inspector employed by a county pursuant to GS 153A-351 for disciplinary reasons. Requires the county to adopt rules or personnel policies defining “just cause.” Provides an emergency suspension exception where conduct presents an imminent threat to public safety or property, or results in significant disruption to county operations that align with the county’s definition of just cause. Provides procedural details to implement the immediate suspension. Provides procedural safeguards that a county’s personnel policy or procedure must include, at minimum, for any disciplinary dismissal, demotion, or suspension of a building inspector aside from the emergency suspension. Permits each county to adopt supplementary personnel policies and procedures governing the discipline and removal of building inspectors beyond the minimum requirements of this statute.
Enacts GS 160A-170 which provides building inspector disciplinary procedures for inspectors employed by the city. Identical to those definitions, requirements, exceptions, procedures, and local flexibility preservation detailed above for counties.
Effective July 1, 2026, and applies to disciplinary actions initiated on or after that date.
Section 4. 
Amends GS 160D-1113 making technical changes to provide formatting for subsections' structure. Adds new subsection (b), which makes approval of any component or element of construction after inspection by a local inspector as compliant with State Building Code and applicable law binding and final as to the Code requirements for that stage of construction. Any subsequent inspections cannot require uncovered re-inspection, alteration, dismantling, or removal of the approved component or element and an inspector or inspection department cannot rescind or withhold approval for the component or element, unless one of the excepted conditions applies, which includes a material change in code requirements requiring retroactive compliance; discovery that approval was issued on the basis of false or misleading information, misrepresentation, or fraud that, if known at the time, would have led to withholding of approval; discovery of a concealed defect that results in noncompliance or presents a safety hazard; or subsequent damage or alteration to the approved component or element.
Effective October 1, 2025, and applies to building permits applied for on or after that date.
Section 5. 
Provides purpose of this statute to create a dedicated fund to support Tier 1 and Tier 2 counties in increasing building code inspection capacity after a disaster.
Defines seven terms for the purposes of this statute , which include: (1) county tier system; (2) disaster; (3) eligible county (county designated as a tier 1 or tier 2 county at the time of the disaster declaration); (4) eligible costs; (5) OSFM (Office of State Fire Marshal); (6) Tier 1 county; and (7) Tier 2 county.
Establishes the Disaster Inspection Relief Fund (Relief Fund) as a special fund in the Department of Insurance administered by OSFM to provide financial assistance grants to eligible counties for the purpose of hiring additional building code inspectors to support disaster recovery efforts.
Permits funds in the Relief Fund to become available for application by eligible counties upon Governor’s declaration of a state of emergency or disaster pursuant to Chapter 166A impacting one or more eligible counties.
Permits use of funds only for eligible costs incurred to increase building code inspection capacity in response to the declared disaster and prohibits use of the fund to supplant existing local funding for Code enforcement activities that were budgeted prior to the disaster.
Details county match requirements and percentages for funds disbursed from the Relief Fund.
Details the OSFM application and award process. Requires OSFM to prescribe the application form and sets minimum requirements for the application information and documentation. Requires OSFM to review applications based on demonstrated need, severity of disaster impact on the county, feasibility of the county’s plan, and compliance with this statute. Permits awards to be given on an expedited basis to ensure timely inspection services are available. Sets out prioritization parameters in the event that available funds are insufficient to meet needs of all qualified applicants.
Requires OSFM to report on administration and use of the Relief Fund to the Joint Legislative Commission on Governmental Operations and the Fiscal Research Division with an initial report no later than 90 days after the first grant is awarded from the Relief Fund following a disaster declaration and subsequent reports annually by November 1st. Sets out information to be provided in each report.
Authorizes OSFM to develop guidelines, procedures, and application forms to implement the statute's provisions.
Section 6. 
Authorizes an individual with a standard certificate as a Code-enforcement official with level I building qualification to conduct inspections on small residential buildings (up to three stories high with no more than four dwelling units) and small nonresidential buildings (one story high and not exceeding 20,000 square feet in gross floor area that are classified under the state building code as Business, Mercantile, Factory-Industrial, Storage or Utility/Miscellaneous occupancies).
Requires the Board to adopt rules substantively identical to the above. These rules are not subject to Part 3 of Article 2A of Chapter 150B and will become effective as though 10 or more written objections had been received under GS 150B-21.3(b2). Mandates that the Board and local governments follow the provisions above until the effective date of the rules the Board is required to adopt pursuant to this statute.
Expires when the permanent rules become effective.

Statutes affected:
Filed: 143-151.13, 160D-1113