N.C. Gen. Stat. § § 42-14.1
Preemption of local regulations.
Operative Text
(a) No county or city as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged for privately owned, single-family or multiple unit residential or commercial rental property. (b) No county or city as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which prohibits an owner, lessee, sublessee, assignee, managing agent, or other person having the right to lease, sublease, or rent a housing accommodation from refusing to lease or rent the housing accommodation to a person because the person's lawful source of income to pay rent includes funding from a federal housing assistance program. (c) This section shall not be construed as prohibiting any county or city, or any authority created by a county or city for that purpose, from: (1) Regulating in any way property belonging to that city, county, or authority. (2) Entering into agreements with private persons which regulate the amount of rent charged for subsidized rental properties. (3) Enacting ordinances or resolutions restricting rent for properties assisted with Community Development Block Grant Funds. (4) Enacting ordinances or resolutions applicable to owners or operators that receive funding or financial incentives from the county or city. (1987, c. 458, s. 1; 2024-47, s. 7.)
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 establishes a statewide preemption that bars North Carolina counties and cities from passing or enforcing local rent control ordinances covering privately owned residential or commercial rental property. The law also prevents local governments from requiring landlords to accept tenants who rely on federal housing assistance programs, such as Section 8 vouchers, as a source of income. Certain narrow exceptions exist, including rules that apply to government-owned property, subsidized housing agreements, Community Development Block Grant-assisted properties, and properties that receive direct financial incentives from a local government.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1, no North Carolina city or county has the legal authority to cap the rents that private landlords charge on residential or commercial rental units, so operators generally need not concern themselves with local rent-control ordinances. The same statute means local governments cannot compel landlords to accept federal housing assistance vouchers as a qualifying income source, though landlords who voluntarily accept public subsidies or local financial incentives may find themselves subject to related conditions. Operators who own or manage properties funded through Community Development Block Grants or similar local-government agreements should review those specific program terms, as § 42-14.1 expressly carves out those arrangements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-14.1 means that, unlike in some other states, no North Carolina city or county is permitted to enact rent control protections for tenants renting privately owned housing, so local rent-stabilization ordinances are not a remedy available under state law. The statute also removes any local-government requirement that landlords accept federal housing assistance, such as housing choice vouchers, which can affect housing access for voucher holders. Tenants who believe a landlord's practices may still implicate other state or federal fair-housing protections, or who have questions about subsidized housing programs that fall under § 42-14.1's exceptions, may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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