Seemingly clear, objective development regulations may be the subject of debate and interpretation. Is that new business unlawful? Was the notice of violation correctly issued? Does the proposed development meet the applicable standards? Did the administrator correctly interpret the regulation? … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
They can’t park all of those cars in the front yard! That subdivision street is not being built to standard! That newly permitted storage facility has not installed the required fencing to ensure community safety! What’s the town to do? … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
This post was authored by School of Government Faculty Member Shea Denning. This legislative session the General Assembly authorized cities and counties to use automated traffic cameras and speed sensors to enforce speed limits in school zones. Enforcement of traffic … Read more The post New Legislation Authorizes Enforcement of School Zone Speed Limits Through Automated Cameras appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
This is my third post discussing S.L. 2025-16, the Fostering Care in NC Act. The various sections of this significant 32-page session law have different effective dates: June 26, 2025, October 1, 2025, December 1, 2025, and April 1, 2026. … Read more The post The Fostering Care in NC Act: Changes to Child Welfare Effective October 1, 2025, Part 2, and an On-Demand Webinar on the Legislative Changes appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
A neighbor calls the local zoning office to complain: “My neighbor’s causing a ruckus. Y’all need to get out here and shut it down!” Or a property owner got a site plan approved and now they are not building according … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
No local government employee or official is more familiar with the litigation process (and its toll) than the local government lawyer, whose role is to counsel and advocate on behalf of the local government unit. A sampling of municipal and … Read more The post Court Is in Session: Advice about Litigation from Local Government Lawyers appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Since the rise of social media, every national political event produces multiple examples of government employees being disciplined for on-line comments about that event. The shooting of Charlie Kirk is no exception. A Google search reveals dozens of stories about … Read more The post Government Employees, Social Media, and the First Amendment (again) appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
In my last blog post about the confidentiality of adult protective services (APS) information, I described a five-step framework for determining when a department of social services (DSS) may release APS information (see flowchart here). The first step in that … Read more The post Laws That May Require Disclosure of Confidential Adult Protective Services Information appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
As discussed in a previous post, local governments in North Carolina have a range of options for working together to provide water and wastewater services. At one end of this spectrum is the ability to create a separate legal entity … Read more The post Water and Sewer Authorities appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
This post is co-authored with my colleague Meredith Smith. For years, local stakeholders in North Carolina have been forming adult protective multidisciplinary teams (MDTs)—groups of professionals from different disciplines who find ways to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect, and … Read more The post Statutory Case Review Multidisciplinary Teams: S.L. 2025-23 Provides a New Model for Protecting Vulnerable Adults appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Litigation is the process of resolving legal disputes through the court system. Litigation can be complex, burdensome, expensive, time-consuming, and stressful. A single lawsuit can take years to resolve and cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars. But … Read more The post New Resource Available: “A Civil Litigation Guide for Non-Attorneys in Local Government” appeared first on Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law.| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The 2024 HIPAA Final Rule is (mostly) dead. If you read my most recent post, you know that we have been waiting to see if the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals was going to permit the cities of Columbus, Ohio … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
A defining characteristic of President Trump’s first five months has been his widespread use of Executive Orders (EOs). President Trump has issued four EOs with significant impact on employment discrimination law: two focus on the elimination of diversity, equity and … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Since the lifting of the COVID state of emergency, local governments have consistently asked about conducting remote meetings. The Court of Appeals ruled on an aspect of remote meetings in State of North Carolina ex rel. Cannon v. Anson County. … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Since the lifting of the COVID state of emergency, local governments have consistently asked whether and how they can continue to conduct remote meetings. Neither the courts nor the legislature have provided a clear answer. Last year, the Court of … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
[UPDATE: On March 19, 2025, the North Carolina Supreme Court deemed this decision, State of North Carolina v. Anson County, to be without precedential value. While courts may still look to this case for guidance, it is not legally binding.] … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Final Update on the 2024 HIPAA Final Rule Regarding Reproductive Health| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The Uniform Relocation Act (URA) is a federal law that provides protection and assistance for people affected by both federal and federally assisted construction projects. The URA ensures that “displaced persons”—those people and businesses whose real property is acquired or who are displaced because of federal or federally assisted projects—receive just compensation for and assistance in moving from the property they own or occupy. This blog post provides an overview of the URA and i...| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
When most people hear the title finance officer, they picture someone working on spreadsheets, paying bills, or preparing financial statements. While those tasks are part of the job, the role of a finance officer in North Carolina local government goes much … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Since the COVID state of emergency expired, local governments have consistently wondered about remote meetings. The Court of Appeals evaluated an aspect of remote meetings in State of North Carolina ex rel. Cannon v. Anson County. Then, in March of 2025, the … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The Machinery Act rarely gives local governments much discretion. Most often our property tax statutes proscribe exactly what should happen in a given situation. There are a few tax collection situations in which local governments have flexibility, however. Consider the unfettered … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Many local governments in North Carolina own and manage water and wastewater utilities as public enterprises. These services are costly to keep running, and smaller systems often have difficulty setting rates that generate enough revenue to cover both operating expenses … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
A new state law (Session Law 2025-16) enacted this summer will soon require all counties and cities in North Carolina to subject all applicants for positions that require working with children in any way to criminal history record checks conducted … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
9/16/2025: Please see this blog post for an update on this public health law topic. In June 2024, changes to the HIPAA Privacy Rule aimed at supporting reproductive health care privacy went into effect. I wrote about these changes in … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The following post is authored by SOG faculty member Sara DePasquale. This is my second post discussing S.L. 2025-16, the Fostering Care in NC Act. The various sections of this significant 32-page session law have different effective dates. Some sections became … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The Fostering Care in NC Act: Changes to Child Welfare Effective October 1, 2025, Part 1| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
I am excited to share a new resource for governing boards of local public health agencies in North Carolina! Local Boards of Health in North Carolina provides local board of health members with the information that they need to understand … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
My colleague Kirsten Leloudis and I are pleased to announce the publication of Consolidated Human Services Boards in North Carolina, a new book now available from the School of Government. Since the enactment of Session Law 2012-126 thirteen years ago, … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Local Government Utilities Not Authorized to Charge Meter Tampering Penalties| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
This is the third and final blog post in a series discussing how President Trump’s Executive Orders (EOs) impact employment discrimination law at the local level. The first post focused on EOs ordering the elimination of diversity, equity and inclusion … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The Town of Tamperville, NC disconnects a customer’s water service for nonpayment. Two weeks later, a staff member reviewing usage data notices something unusual. Water is being used at the property, even though service has not been restored. A technician … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The law surrounding property tax exemption applications, already confusing, was made even murkier under a bill recently signed by the governor. Session Law 2025-20 (HB91) allows for retroactive exemption applications, but only for the religious exemption and only for the … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Beginning December 1, 2025, a new North Carolina law will provide enhanced protections for employees, agents, and contractors who work for utility and communications providers—including those employed by local governments and public authorities. Under an amendment to G.S. 14-33(b), a … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
In North Carolina, each county department of social services (DSS) is responsible for receiving and evaluating reports of alleged abuse, neglect, or exploitation of disabled adults. See G.S. 108A-102 and –103. These reports and the evaluations that follow them often … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Session Law 2025-16 (HB 612) was signed into law on June 26, 2025. It makes numerous changes related to child welfare, many of which are discussed by my colleague Sara DePasquale in this blog post. Section 1.17.(b) of the new … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
When a state transportation project requires the relocation of water or sewer lines, the cost of moving that infrastructure often falls on the local government that owns it. These expenses, known as nonbetterment costs, can be significant, especially for smaller … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
The following post is authored by SOG faculty member Sara DePasquale On June 26, 2025, H612 was signed by the Governor and became S.L. 2025-16. This session law makes significant amendments to the laws addressing juvenile abuse, neglect, and dependency … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
It is common for North Carolina counties and municipalities to seek out state or federal grants and loans to help fund local projects. These external funding sources can be essential to getting work done, especially in communities with limited local … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
Discrimination| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law
North Carolina is often described as a “Dillon’s Rule” state. What does that mean? Is it the opposite of home rule? Does it mean our courts apply Dillon’s Rule in interpreting the scope of local government authority? Or does it … Read more| Coates’ Canons NC Local Government Law