A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT authorizing cities to require payment of a periodic availability charge if improved property qualifies for the issuance of a building permit and the city has installed water or sewer lines directly available to the property.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 160A‑317 reads as rewritten:
"§ 160A‑317.  Power to require connections to water or sewer service and the use of solid waste collection services.
(a)	A city may require one of the following:
(1)	A city may require an owner of developed property on which there are situated one or more residential dwelling units or commercial establishments located within the city limits and within a reasonable distance of any water line or sewer collection line owned, leased as lessee, or operated by the city or on behalf of the city to connect the owner's premises with the water or sewer line or both, and may fix charges for the connections.
(2)	In lieu of requiring connection under this subdivision (1) of this subsection and in order to avoid hardship, the city may require payment of a periodic availability charge, not to exceed the minimum periodic service charge for properties that are connected. In the case of improved property that would qualify for the issuance of a building permit for the construction of one or more residential dwelling units or commercial establishments and where the city has installed water or sewer lines or a combination thereof directly available to the property, the city may require payment of a periodic availability charge, not to exceed the minimum periodic service charge for properties that are connected.
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SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.