A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing that the town of davidson may adopt ordinances that prohibit the removal of heritage trees from property to be developed for single‑family or duplex residential uses.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Section 4 of S.L. 1997‑420 reads as rewritten:
"Section 4.  In order to preserve and enhance one of the most valuable natural resources of the community and to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its citizens, a municipality may adopt ordinances to regulate the planting, removal, and preservation of trees on public and private property within the municipality. Any ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall exclude property to be developed for single‑family or duplex residential uses, except the ordinance may prohibit the removal of heritage trees from property to be developed for single‑family or duplex residential uses. For purposes of this Section, the term "heritage tree" means a native tree species that is 30 inches in diameter at breast height."
SECTION 2.  This act applies to the Town of Davidson only.
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.