A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to prohibit counties and cities from adopting certain ordinances, rules, and regulations related to battery‑charged security fences and to define and establish requirements for those battery‑charged security fences.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  Article 6 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 153A‑134.1.  Regulation of battery‑charged security fences.
(a)	No county may adopt an ordinance, rule, or regulation that does any of the following:
(1)	Requires any type of permit, fee, review, or approval for the installation or use of a battery‑charged security fence in addition to a permit that may be required by an ordinance adopted by the governing board as authorized by G.S. 74D‑11(c).
(2)	Imposes installation or operational requirements for battery‑charged security fences that are inconsistent with the requirements and standards described in subsection (b) of this section.
(3)	Prohibits the installation or use of a battery‑charged security fence on property that has been zoned for nonresidential use.
(b)	For purposes of this section, the term "battery‑charged security fence" means an alarm system and ancillary components, or equipment attached to that system, including a fence, a battery‑operated energizer that is intended to periodically deliver voltage impulses to the fence, and a battery charging device used exclusively to charge the battery. A battery‑charged security fence shall meet the following requirements:
(1)	Interfaces with a monitored alarm device enabling the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon the business or law enforcement in response to an intrusion or burglary.
(2)	Is located on property that is not designated by a county or city exclusively for residential use.
(3)	Has an energizer that is powered by a commercial storage battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current.
(4)	Has an energizer that meets the standards established by the most current version of the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335‑2‑76.
(5)	Is surrounded by a non‑electric perimeter fence or wall that is not less than 5 feet in height.
(6)	Does not exceed 10 feet in height or 2 feet higher than the non‑electric perimeter fence or wall, whichever is higher.
(7)	Is marked with conspicuous warning signs that are located on the battery‑charged security fence at not more than 30‑foot intervals and read: "WARNING—ELECTRIC FENCE"."
SECTION 2.  Article 8 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:
"§ 160A‑194.1.  Regulation of battery‑charged security fences.
(a)	No city may adopt an ordinance, rule, or regulation that does any of the following:
(1)	Requires any type of permit, fee, review, or approval for the installation or use of a battery‑charged security fence in addition to a permit that may be required by an ordinance adopted by the governing board as authorized by G.S. 74D‑11(c).
(2)	Imposes installation or operational requirements for battery‑charged security fences that are inconsistent with the requirements and standards described in subsection (b) of this section.
(3)	Prohibits the installation or use of a battery‑charged security fence on property that has been zoned for nonresidential use.
(b)	For purposes of this section, the term "battery‑charged security fence" means an alarm system and ancillary components, or equipment attached to that system, including a fence, a battery‑operated energizer that is intended to periodically deliver voltage impulses to the fence, and a battery charging device used exclusively to charge the battery. A battery‑charged security fence shall meet the following requirements:
(1)	Interfaces with a monitored alarm device enabling the alarm system to transmit a signal intended to summon the business or law enforcement in response to an intrusion or burglary.
(2)	Is located on property that is not designated by a county or city exclusively for residential use.
(3)	Has an energizer that is powered by a commercial storage battery that is not more than 12 volts of direct current.
(4)	Has an energizer that meets the standards established by the most current version of the International Electrotechnical Commission Standard 60335‑2‑76.
(5)	Is surrounded by a non‑electric perimeter fence or wall that is not less than 5 feet in height.
(6)	Does not exceed 10 feet in height or 2 feet higher than the non‑electric perimeter fence or wall, whichever is higher.
(7)	Is marked with conspicuous warning signs that are located on the battery‑charged security fence at not more than 30‑foot intervals and read: "WARNING—ELECTRIC FENCE"."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.