A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing clerks of the superior courts of this state to determine whether an easement should be relocated in a special proceeding.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Chapter 136 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new Article to read as follows:
"Article 4B.
"Relocation of Easements.
"§ 136‑71.17.  Special proceeding for relocation of easements; petition; appeal.
(a)	The relocation of an easement shall be determined by a special proceeding instituted before the clerk of the superior court in the county where the property affected is situated. The special proceeding shall be commenced by the owner of the servient estate filing a petition with the clerk and serving a copy thereof on the owner of the dominant estate. A guardian ad litem shall be appointed for any person under a disability.
(b)	The clerk shall issue an order authorizing the relocation of the easement only if there is a finding that the relocation can be accomplished without: (i) material and substantial inconvenience; (ii) material and substantial reduction in value; or (iii) substantial expense to connect the relocated easement to any existing improvements situated on the dominant estate that are necessary for the continued use of the easement by the owner of the dominant estate. The owner of the servient estate shall record in the office of the county register of deeds a copy of the clerk's order authorizing the relocation of the easement along with a plat showing the relocated easement. The order and plat shall be indexed under the names of the owner of the servient estate and the owner of the dominant estate.
(c)	The owner of the servient estate shall bear the cost of relocating the easement. The costs in the special proceeding, including the fee and other cost of a survey as provided in G.S. 1‑408.1, shall be taxed against the owner of the servient estate. However, if the clerk makes a finding that the owner of the dominant estate has unreasonably refused to consent to the relocation of the easement, all or a portion of the costs in the special proceeding may be taxed against the owner of the dominant estate.
(d)	From any final order or judgment in the special proceeding, any interested party may appeal to the superior court for a jury trial de novo on the issue of the relocation of the easement.
(e)	This Article does not apply to public utilities as defined in G.S. 62‑3(23)a.1."
SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.