Bill
HB 894
Allows certain federal firearms dealers on one floor, up to 15,000 sq ft, to be exempt from nonbusiness-hour door-lock rules with a local permit, alarm, and a $500 fee.
Status and key dates
- Filed: April 10, 2025 (House Bill H.B. 894, Rep. Adams sponsor).
- Engrossed (Second Edition): May 7, 2025.
- Effective: "when it becomes law" (per bill text).
- Note: The bill directs the State Building Code Council to adopt permanent rule changes; interim provisions apply until rules take effect.
Purpose
- To permit a narrowly defined group of federal firearms dealers to be exempted from certain State Building Code “door lock” requirements for means of egress during nonbusiness hours, subject to a local permit and safety/administrative conditions.
Scope / who is eligible
- Business entities licensed as federal firearms dealers that are “primarily engaged” in selling firearms or ammunition.
- Retail sales/occupancy must be contained on one floor and be no greater than 15,000 square feet of retail sales space (defined as areas where firearms/ammunition are displayed/merchandised).
Key provisions
- Rulemaking: The State Building Code Council must adopt rules amending the NC State Building Code to create this exemption. The Council must limit the exemption to nonbusiness hours (when the business is closed to the public).
- Interim compliance: Until the Council’s permanent rules take effect, local governments and the Council will follow the bill’s subsection (c) provisions.
- Local permit: The local fire code official issues a permit exempting the business from door lock requirements during nonbusiness hours if the business meets the statutory conditions.
- Permit fee: $500 paid to the local inspection department.
- Safety and operational conditions required for permit issuance:
- Approved smoke, fire, and break-in alarm system installed and operated per the fire code official’s requirements (the alarm system need not include automatic door-unlocking upon alarm).
- Owner/operator must provide a written facility locking plan to all employees within 10 days of permit issuance (or at hire).
- Each entrance must display conspicuous signage warning that the building is exempt from door lock requirements during nonbusiness hours and that doors will remain locked from the inside even in the case of fire.
- Local responsibilities:
- Local inspection department files permit copies with local law enforcement and fire protection agencies serving the business.
- Local inspection department conducts necessary inspections for issuance and periodic inspections for ongoing compliance.
- Permit revocation if initial conditions are not maintained or if the exemption is used during business hours.
- Limitations added in later edition: does not apply to businesses that already received local authorization for an alternative means/method of compliance with door-lock requirements.
Sunset / transition
- The interim statutory permit provisions expire when the Council’s permanent rules take effect.
Potential impacts and considerations
- Affected parties: qualifying federal firearms retail dealers, their employees, local fire code officials, and local law enforcement/fire agencies.
- Public safety trade-offs: exemption removes certain means-of-egress door unlocking requirements during nonbusiness hours; mitigated by required alarm systems, employee training/locking plans, signage, and local inspection and revocation authority.
- Administrative/financial: $500 permit fee (local revenue); increased inspection and record-sharing responsibilities for local inspection departments and emergency services.
- Limits eligibility by floor layout and size (one floor; ≤15,000 sq ft), and by requiring local permitting and oversight to remain in force.
For readers seeking full text or status updates
- Consult the North Carolina General Assembly bill file for H.B. 894 (2025 session) for committee reports, amendments (editions), and the final rulemaking actions of the State Building Code Council.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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