Tree Ordinances Continue. State Preemption

What’s happening? North Carolina Legislature is considering House Bill 496 (2021 | NC), the Property Owners’ Rights/Tree Ordinances Act, that would require state legislature approval of any local government tree removal ordinance.

Why is this important? The mix of policy considerations is what makes this interesting. The State protecting a property owner’s right to use her land as she pleases. The Local Government power being usurped by the state.

How will this be important? This balance between state power and local power is playing out in many areas- land use, homeless population policies, plastic bag bans, ride share regulation, short term rental legislation, electric scooters and more.

Carteret News Times | Towns worry 2 state bills could thwart local ability to regulate property use