NC H2065

Clarifies and expands the Town of Carolina Beach's authority to regulate and enforce laws in Carolina Beach Harbor and a shoreline area extending 200 yards from the town's corporate boundaries, excluding the Atlantic Ocean shoreline, Intracoastal Waterway, and areas within other municipalities.

Authorizes the Town to adopt or extend ordinances in the shoreline area for navigation, boating, water safety, resource protection, recreation, and public safety, subject to the requirement that state, county, and federal rules take precedence in case of conflict.

Grants Town law enforcement officers authority to enforce ordinances and adopt mutual aid agreements with county, state, and federal agencies in the shoreline area, subject to existing enforcement authority held by other agencies.

Permits the Town to hire special officers to serve as harbormaster with full law enforcement powers and to operate facilities including piers, docks, slips, mooring fields, boats, and navigational equipment in the shoreline area.

Prohibits the Town from adopting ordinances that would interfere with or limit public trust rights or legal access rights to public trust areas.