NC S326

Inspection departments may inspect additional dwelling units in multifamily buildings when a safety hazard posing an immediate threat is found in one unit, without requiring a specific complaint or prior knowledge of the unsafe condition.

Raises the threshold for "reasonable cause" to inspect residential buildings from more than two verified violations to more than four verified violations within a rolling 12-month period.

Limits targeted inspection areas in counties and cities to no greater than one square mile or five percent of the jurisdiction's area, and requires these areas to meet the definition of blighted areas under state law.

Restricts rental property registration requirements to individual rental units with either more than four verified violations in a rolling 12-month period or two or more verified violations in a rolling 30-day period, with maximum registration fees of $500 per 12-month period.

Requires local governments to notify landlords of crimes, disorders, or violations counted against their properties and establishes a process for property owners to appeal inspection-related actions to a board.