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ARTICLE · 20 AUGUST 2026

North Carolina Land Use Client Alert

Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
Moore & Van Allen, PLLC
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Moore & Van Allen, PLLC

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North Carolina's General Assembly has enacted sweeping legislation that fundamentally reshapes local zoning authority and development regulations across the state's largest cities. The new law introduces by-right residential redevelopment provisions, extends vested rights protections, and mandates accessory dwelling unit allowances while capping certain design requirements that have historically constrained developers.

United StatesReal Estate and Construction
Jefferson Brown
Jefferson Brown
John Floyd
John Floyd
Bridget Grant
Bridget Grant
Shad Spencer
Shad Spencer
Lisa Thompson
Lisa Thompson

On August 11, 2026, North Carolina Senate Bill 445 was enacted into law, providing relief for real estate developers on several fronts, including:

  • Providing by-right residential redevelopment of a minimum height of up to 60 feet on parcels zoned for nonagricultural, commercial, business, or light industrial use in cities with a population greater than 80,000 located in counties with a population greater than 1 million (Charlotte, Raleigh, and Cary);
  • Extending vested rights on site-specific vesting plans from a minimum of two to a minimum of five years, with the ability for local governments to extend vesting up to eight years, thereby strengthening protection from subsequently adopted development regulations;

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