H442 - Justice for Rural Citizens Act

• Eliminates extraterritorial planning jurisdiction for all North Carolina cities, requiring that cities exercise planning powers only within their corporate limits effective January 1, 2018.

• Repeals provisions allowing cities to exercise planning authority over areas extending one to three miles beyond corporate limits based on population size, and removes notification and board representation requirements associated with extraterritorial jurisdiction.

• Requires cities to relinquish extraterritorial planning jurisdiction by January 1, 2018, with county regulations remaining in effect for 60 days to allow counties to adopt replacement regulations.

• Preserves vested rights of property owners with existing permits or certificates issued by cities, allowing continued exercise of those rights after jurisdiction transfers to counties.

• Makes conforming changes to state law references to extraterritorial jurisdiction in statutes covering energy incentives, outdoor advertising, building codes, water and sewer permits, and other regulatory areas, while preserving law enforcement extraterritorial jurisdiction.