NC S617

Prohibits counties and cities from adopting ordinances that ban giving away live animals as prizes or competition inducements, unless the activity otherwise involves animal abuse.

Prevents counties and cities from requiring compliance with voluntary state regulations and rules (including those in the State Building Code and Energy Conservation Code) unless the state mandates their enforcement.

Allows property owners of development tracts spanning municipal and county boundaries to choose either unified county ordinances or separate city/county ordinances for different portions of the tract.

Exempts hospitals and free-standing emergency rooms from local zoning signage regulations and requires state approval for any local revisions to pre-approved prototype food establishment plans.

Requires a two-thirds Board of Transportation supermajority vote to reduce travel lanes on state highways within municipalities for bike lanes, permits 25-year communication tower leases without property sale procedures, and exempts owners of five or fewer bee hives from local prohibitions on bee keeping.