NC H294

Establishes the North Carolina Housing Choice Grant administered by the Department of Commerce to award annual grants to eligible counties and municipalities for local water, sewer, or transportation infrastructure projects.

Counties with populations of 100,000 or less must designate at least 5 zoning districts where multifamily housing is permitted; counties with populations over 100,000 must designate at least 10 such districts and meet at least 4 of 7 additional criteria (including minimum density of 15 units per acre, no age restrictions, no parking minimums, setback waivers, accessory dwelling units, permissive building heights, and allowing residential development in non-residential zones).

Grants are capped at $1,000,000 per recipient and awarded to jurisdictions that have produced significant housing units through designated multifamily zoning; if demand exceeds available funds, grants are distributed on a per capita basis and unawarded funds carry forward.

Each eligible county or municipality may receive only one grant award every five years, with applications due by April 1 each year.

Appropriates $30,000,000 in recurring General Fund dollars for the 2024-2025 fiscal year; act becomes effective July 1, 2023.