H.B. 51 - Justice for Rural Citizens Act

• Eliminates all extraterritorial planning jurisdiction for North Carolina cities, requiring cities to restrict planning powers to areas within their corporate limits only, effective January 1, 2016.

• Removes provisions allowing cities of 10,000-25,000 population to exercise planning jurisdiction up to two miles beyond corporate limits and cities of 25,000+ population to exercise jurisdiction up to three miles beyond corporate limits.

• Repeals local acts granting any city, town, or village extraterritorial planning jurisdiction and repeals G.S. 160A-362 regarding planning board composition for extraterritorial areas.

• Provides 60-day transition period during which city regulations remain in effect after relinquishment of jurisdiction, allowing counties time to adopt replacement regulations and protecting vested rights obtained under city permits.

• Makes conforming changes to statutes referencing extraterritorial jurisdiction in areas such as water systems, sewer systems, building codes, transportation corridors, and outdoor advertising.