A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT providing that state and local government agencies will deliver permits issued to permittees by mail instead of in‑person delivery at an agency or other physical location unless a permittee opts to receive delivery of the permit in person.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 10 of Chapter 143 of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 143‑162.6.  Delivery of permits issued by State agencies.
(a)	By July 1, 2023, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each executive branch agency within State government shall establish a policy to send any permits issued by the agency to permittees using one of the following methods instead of requiring the permittee to receive in‑person delivery of the permit at an agency office or other physical location:
(1)	Via United States mail. An agency may charge the permittee for mailing costs.
(2)	By electronic mail, as appropriate, if the permittee consents to such delivery in advance.
(b)	A permittee may opt to receive a permit from an executive branch agency in person, however, a permittee shall not be required by the agency to do so.
(c)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an agency from adopting policies to exercise due diligence in verifying a permittee's identity.
(d)	This section does not apply to the legislative or judicial branch of government."
SECTION 2.  Article 23 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑461.  Delivery of permits issued by county agency.
(a)	By July 1, 2023, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each county agency shall establish a policy to send any permits issued by the agency to permittees using one of the following methods instead of requiring the permittee to receive in‑person delivery of the permit at an agency office or other physical location:
(1)	Via United States mail. An agency may charge the permittee for mailing costs.
(2)	By electronic mail, as appropriate, if the permittee consents to such.
(b)	A permittee may opt to receive a permit from a county agency in person, however, a permittee shall not be required by the agency to do so.
(c)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an agency from adopting policies to exercise due diligence in verifying a permittee's identity."
SECTION 3.  Article 21 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑499.6.  Delivery of permits issued by city agency.
(a)	By July 1, 2023, notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each city agency shall establish a policy to send any permits issued by the agency to permittees using one of the following methods instead of requiring the permittee to receive in‑person delivery of the permit at an agency office or other physical location:
(1)	Via United States mail. An agency may charge the permittee for mailing costs.
(2)	By electronic mail, as appropriate, if the permittee consents to such delivery.
(b)	A permittee may opt to receive a permit from a city agency in person, however, the permittee shall not be required by the agency to do so.
(c)	Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit an agency from adopting policies to exercise due diligence in verifying a permittee's identity."
SECTION 4.  This act is effective when it becomes law.