A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT amending the zoning laws to limit when counties may restrict the placement of manufactured homes in areas zoned for single‑family residential use.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 153A‑341.1 reads as rewritten:
"§ 153A‑341.1.  Zoning regulations for manufactured homes.
(a)	The General Assembly finds and declares that manufactured housing offers affordable housing opportunities for low and moderate income residents of this State who could not otherwise afford to own their own home. The General Assembly further finds that some local governments have adopted zoning regulations which severely restrict the placement of manufactured homes. It is the intent of the General Assembly in enacting this section that counties shall not unduly restrict the placement of manufactured homes in areas zoned for single-family residences, with the exception that the homes may be reasonably restricted in areas where uniform aesthetic and design standards are imposed.
(b)	For purposes of this section, the term "manufactured home" is defined as a home meeting all of the following criteria:
(1)	The home meets the Manufactured Home Safety and Construction standards set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as of the date the application is made for a zoning permit to locate the manufactured home on an individual lot.
(2)	Structural additions to the home, such as porches and decks, must comply with the standards of the North Carolina State Building Code.
(c)	A county may not adopt or enforce zoning regulations or other provisions which have the effect of excluding individual manufactured homes located on individual lots from any area zoned for single‑family residential use other than in a historic district.
(d)	A county may adopt and enforce reasonable appearance criteria for manufactured homes. Such criteria shall be designed to protect property values, to preserve the character and integrity of individual neighborhoods within the county, and to promote the health, safety, and welfare of county residents. The criteria shall be adopted by ordinance.
(e)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to preempt or supersede valid restrictive covenants running with the land."
SECTION 2.  If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this section that can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this section are severable.
SECTION 3.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2013, and applies to zoning decisions made on or after that date and to zoning permits issued on or after that date.