Pasquotank County adopts resolution opposing N.C. House Bill 765

The Pasquotank County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously May 5 to adopt a resolution opposing North Carolina House Bill 765 (2025 session), which the board said would curtail local planning authority and impose administrative burdens on small jurisdictions.

The resolution, adopted by motion from Commissioner Sam Davis and seconded by Commissioner Charles Jordan, said the bill "proposes significant alterations to local governance structures," including changes to extraterritorial jurisdiction, annexation procedures and local development authority. It also highlighted a provision requiring local governments to prepare and publish fiscal notes for any ordinance affecting development, "regardless of scale or impact," and warned the requirement would strain counties with limited staff and resources.

The board argued the bill could impose civil penalties on local officials for alleged violations of ambiguous planning rules and said such provisions could "expose elected representatives to legal risk for routine and good-faith decisions made in the public interest." The resolution called on the General Assembly to reconsider the bill and to work with local governments on legislation that "respects local authority, reduces regulatory burdens, and promotes flexible, community-driven development strategies."

Chairman Lloyd E. Griffin III and all members present voted in favor of the resolution. The board did not direct staff to take further formal actions in the meeting beyond adopting the resolution.