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HB 595

Require vehicle insurance to include uninsured motorist coverage

136th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Sean Brennan and 3 co-sponsors

HB 595 allows targeted, limited rental inspections to address blight and hazards while preventing broad landlord registration fees or blanket inspection mandates.

Referred to committee
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Bill Summary · HB 595

HB 595 — Rental Inspections (Summary)

Status: Reported Favorably (Reptd Fav)
Introduced: (document lists multiple dates; core text below reflects North Carolina HB 595, “Rental Inspections”)

Purpose / Intent

To clarify and limit how and when local governments may conduct periodic inspections of rental housing while giving municipalities a targeted tool to address blight, health, safety, and crime/disorder problems in specific areas. The bill balances enabling inspections for hazardous conditions with protections for landlords against broad, mandatory registration, fee, or permitting regimes.

Key provisions

  • Periodic inspections (general rule)

    • Inspection departments may make periodic inspections only when there is "reasonable cause" to believe unsafe, unsanitary, hazardous, or unlawful conditions exist.
    • "Reasonable cause" includes: (i) landlord/owner history of verified violations (see definition below), (ii) an existing complaint or inspection request, (iii) actual knowledge of an unsafe condition, or (iv) visible violations from outside the property.
    • If an inspector finds an immediate safety hazard in one unit of a multifamily building, they may inspect additional units in that building even without a specific complaint.

  • Targeted-area inspections (exception)

    • Local governments may adopt periodic inspections as part of a targeted effort to address blighted or potentially blighted areas that the governing board designates.
    • Aggregate targeted area may not exceed 1 square mile or 5% of the local government's area (whichever is greater).
    • Targeting must reflect a neighborhood revitalization strategy and consist of property meeting statutory definitions of "blighted area/parcel."
    • Local governments must: (i) notify owners/residents in the affected area, (ii) hold a legislative hearing, and (iii) adopt a plan addressing the ability of low‑income property owners to comply with minimum housing standards.

  • Limits on local authority and fees

    • Local governments may not adopt broad ordinances requiring owners/managers to obtain permits or register rental property — except for individual properties that meet specified thresholds of verified violations or that are identified in the top 10% of properties with crime/disorder problems.
    • Localities may not require enrollment in a government program as a precondition for a certificate of occupancy.
    • Special fees/taxes targeted only at residential rental property are prohibited except where allowed by general law; a limited fee may apply to an individual problem unit/property (cap: $500 in any 12‑month period when verified violations are found), subject to statutory exceptions.
    • Violations of rental registration ordinances may not be criminal offenses.
    • Local governments may not require inspections as a condition of providing local utility service.

  • Definitions and enforcement specifics

    • "Verified violation" = aggregate of housing/code violations in an individual rental unit within a 72‑hour period, and violations not corrected within 21 days of written notice. Repeat violations (occurring more than twice in 12 months) may remove the option to cure.
    • For tenant‑caused violations where code deems behavior a violation by the owner, a landlord's filing of a summary ejectment within 30 days counts as correction.
    • If a property is placed in the top 10% for crime/disorder, local government must notify the landlord of which incidents will be counted and must assist with addressing criminal activity (including cooperation with eviction proceedings); lack of cooperation means those incidents cannot be counted against the property.
    • Property owners may appeal local actions under this section to the housing appeals board, zoning board of adjustment, planning board, or governing board.

Who is affected

  • Landlords and property owners of rental housing (single- and multi-family) — especially those with prior violations or properties in designated targeted areas.
  • Renters occupying inspected units (inspection protections and remedies affect habitability).
  • Local governments — provides a targeted inspection tool but curtails broad registration, fee, and permitting regimes.
  • Low‑income property owners are specifically considered in the compliance plan requirement.

Potential impacts

  • Public health & safety: Empowers targeted inspections to address hazardous conditions and emergent safety threats in multifamily buildings.
  • Limits on municipal regulation: Restricts sweeping rental registration or fee programs, narrowing local revenue/ enforcement options and protecting property owners from blanket requirements.
  • Equity considerations: Requires localities to plan for low‑income owners’ ability to comply; also imposes procedural safeguards (notice, hearings, appeals).
  • Enforcement burden: Places procedural duties on local governments (notification, hearings, assistance with evictions) and defines strict timelines for corrections and repeat-violation treatment.

Procedural notes

  • The text above mirrors North Carolina legislative language included in the bill packet; the bill has been through committee reporting in prior sessions (reported favorably in committee). Exact legislative status/timelines may vary by session and jurisdiction; consult the state legislature’s docket for the current status and bill version.

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

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