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HB 914

Higher Education/Religious Institution Affordable Housing.

2025-2026 Session Introduced by Mary Belk and 5 co-sponsors

Allows by-right residential development on land owned by colleges or religious institutions in qualifying urban areas, with at least 80% of units reserved for low-income residents.

Passed 1st Reading
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Bill Summary · HB 914

Summary — HB 914: Higher Education / Religious Institution Affordable Housing

Status: Passed 1st Reading (filed 11/12/2024; effective date in bill: October 1, 2025)
Subject areas: Higher education, housing, local government, planning & zoning

Purpose / Intent

HB 914 authorizes by‑right residential development on land owned by independent institutions of higher education or religious institutions in qualifying municipalities, with the explicit goal of creating affordable housing. The bill limits local zoning review (no conditional use permit or zoning amendment required) for eligible projects that meet specified criteria and affordability requirements.

Key provisions

  • Applicability: Applies to municipalities that (a) have population >50,000 (most recent decennial census) and (b) are designated in whole or in part as an urban area by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  • Eligible sites: Land owned by an independent institution of higher education or a religious institution on or before January 1, 2026.
  • Exclusions: Development is not allowed by this provision if the site is within a local historic district or listed on the National Register of Historic Places; is adjacent to sites where >1/3 of square footage is dedicated to light industrial use (per specified criteria); or if housing would be within 1,200 feet of a current or most recent heavy industrial use.
  • Affordability requirement: At least 80% of units in the development must be reserved for "low‑income residents" (household income ≤ 80% of area median). Up to 5% of units may be reserved for a manager or staff of the institution.
  • Density, height, and zoning relief:
    • If the parcel is not zoned residential, projects are allowed up to 40 units per acre.
    • Building height may be increased by one story above the otherwise applicable maximum; if greater density/height is allowed on adjoining parcels, that greater standard applies.
  • Parking: Up to one off‑street parking space per unit is allowed unless a lower standard already applies. No parking requirement applies if the parcel is within 1/2 mile of a transit stop or inside a transit‑oriented development designation.
  • Ancillary ground‑floor uses:
    • In single‑family zones: limited to child care centers and community‑based recreational/social/educational facilities for residents and local community.
    • In other zones: commercial uses permitted without conditional use or planned unit development approval.
  • Existing lawful uses: Projects may retain previously existing and legally permitted nonresidential uses provided nonresidential square footage and parking do not exceed prior amounts and prior conditions remain.
  • Compliance: Projects must meet development standards and building codes unless those standards conflict with this section.
  • Definitions: "Independent higher education institution" and "religious institution" reference existing state statutory definitions (G.S. 116‑280(3); G.S. 131F‑2(17)).

Who is affected

  • Independent private colleges/universities and religious institutions that own urban property in qualifying municipalities (ownership cutoff: on or before Jan 1, 2026).
  • Low‑income households (priority occupancy for affordable units).
  • Municipalities with populations over 50,000 — local zoning authority over eligible parcels is substantially constrained for these projects.
  • Local communities near eligible parcels (impacts on density, parking, services, neighborhood character).

Potential impacts and considerations

  • Likely to enable faster development of affordable housing on institution‑owned land by removing conditional use and rezoning barriers.
  • Municipal control over land use for eligible parcels is reduced; may create tensions with local plans, neighborhood preferences, and preservation objectives (mitigated in part by historic and industrial exclusions).
  • Could increase housing supply targeted at low‑income households and provide institutional opportunities (direct development or public–private partnerships).
  • Implications for infrastructure, school/child care demand, and neighborhood services depend on project scale and location.
  • Effective date: the bill states it becomes effective October 1, 2025.

Legislative status / history (selected)

  • Filed: Nov 12, 2024.
  • Passed 1st Reading: Apr 14, 2025.
  • Referred to: Rules, Calendar, and Operations of the House.

(For precise statutory text, definitions, and procedural updates, consult the bill language and state legislative records.)

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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