Water Fee Amendments

2025 General Session Introduced by Scott Sandall and 1 co-sponsor

SB 80 lets NC towns adopt ordinances using electronic notices (including websites) for required public notices, potentially replacing some newspaper publications.

Governor Signed

#departmentofenvironmentalquality #drinkingwater #localtaxationandfees #naturalresources #water #waterutilities #irrigation #andsewer

Purpose

SB 80 expands local authority for specified North Carolina towns to use electronic methods (including a town’s website) to provide legally required public notices and hearing announcements. The bill updates and broadens an earlier local law (S.L. 2007‑86) so more municipalities may adopt ordinances allowing electronic notice in lieu of traditional publication.

Key provisions

Authorizes a city or town’s governing body to adopt an ordinance permitting required public notices and public‑hearing notices to be given by electronic means (explicitly including the municipality’s Internet site).

Allows electronic notice to substitute for traditional publication methods (e.g., newspaper publication) where the local ordinance so provides.

Preserves existing State protections: the local ordinance cannot override any State law that requires notice by mail to specified classes of persons, or the posting of signs on property, and it cannot change statutory publication schedules for notices.

Expands the list of towns covered by the statute. Where the earlier law applied to Apex, Cary, Fuquay‑Varina, Garner, and Knightdale, SB 80 extends coverage to include additional municipalities (Holly Springs, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, Zebulon) — so the full covered list becomes Apex, Cary, Fuquay‑Varina, Garner, Knightdale, Holly Springs, Morrisville, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell, and Zebulon.

Effective date: the act is effective upon becoming law.

Who is affected

Municipal governments in the named towns (city/town councils or equivalent) — they may adopt ordinances to use electronic notice.

Residents, businesses, developers, and property owners in those towns — they may receive notices electronically rather than (or in addition to) traditional print.

Newspapers and traditional notice distributors in those jurisdictions may see reduced paid notice volume where electronic substitution occurs.

Potential impacts and considerations

Benefits: lower municipal advertising costs; faster dissemination; centralized, searchable online archives; potentially broader reach for digitally connected residents.

Risks and equity concerns: residents without reliable Internet access could be disadvantaged if electronic notice replaces mailed or posted notices; municipalities must ensure compliance where State law still requires mail/posting.

Legal/administrative: towns must adopt clear ordinances defining acceptable electronic formats, retention/archival practices, proof of publication, and alternative access methods to satisfy due‑process and statutory notice requirements.

Practical next steps for local governments

If adopting electronic‑notice ordinances, include provisions to (1) preserve mandated mail/posting where required, (2) define official municipal notice web pages, (3) set archival and timestamping standards, and (4) provide alternative access options (public terminals, mailed notice on request) to mitigate access gaps.

Bill