Burke realtor president: Controversial House bill would help homeowners

House Bill 765, currently under consideration in the General Assembly, has its share of foes across the state, including Burke County and the City of Morganton, who have passed resolutions opposing it.

The Burke Board of Realtors and its parent N.C. organization, nonprofit trade group NC Realtors, feel differently about the bill, which would make significant changes to local planning and zoning laws.

Officials are worried the legislation would take away local authority in zoning matters.

The realtors say the bill would only reinforce laws already on the books and would expand opportunities for much-needed housing developments by limiting local control of residential development and expediting the permitting process.

“HB 765 does not impose new regulations on local governments that are already following existing state laws,” said Saralyn Maiella, president of the Burke Board of Realtors. “Instead, it seeks to reduce unnecessary delays that slow down housing development.

“For example, in Burke County, septic permitting can take 6 to 12 weeks, and in Catawba County, water tap installations may take up to 18 weeks. These types of delays contribute to a growing bottleneck in housing availability.”

The resolution passed by the county commissioners during its May meeting says in part HB 765 “limits the ability of counties to regulate density by lot size, regardless of existing local planning efforts, infrastructure capacity, or community feedback.”

It goes on to say “state-level preemption of local planning and zoning, without consultation with local governments or the communities they serve, sets a dangerous precedent and disrupts the cooperative spirit of governance between the State and its municipalities and counties.”

The North Carolina Association of County Commissioners (NCACC) said Tuesday it is aware of 15 counties, Burke included, that have passed similar resolutions opposing the bill. Jodie A. Lanning, NCACC spokesperson, said there may be others.

But Maiella countered by saying HB 765 could go a long way toward solving the current housing crisis affecting areas like Burke.

A comprehensive housing study commissioned by the county and released in March 2024, found Burke is currently 5,000 housing units short of where it needs to be to meet expected demand in the years to come.

“The goal of House Bill 765 is simple but vital: to help more North Carolinians achieve the dream of homeownership,” Maiella said. “While we recognize that solving the housing crisis is a long-term effort, this bill represents a meaningful step forward.”

“Ultimately, HB 765 is about fairness and equity. To meet both current and future demand — and to ensure continued affordability for all — we must take action. This bill reflects our commitment to supporting the next generation of homeowners in North Carolina.”

The bill is currently in the hands of the House Rules, Calendar, and Operations Committee. It was sent to the committee on May 6, and no further actions have been recorded since then.

Approval by the rules committee would send it to the House for a vote.