N.C. Gen. Stat. § § 95-227
Enforcement.
Operative Text
(a) For the purpose of enforcing the standards provided by this Article, the provisions of G.S. 95-129, G.S. 95-130 and G.S. 95-136 through G.S. 95-142 shall apply under this Article in a similar manner as they apply to places of employment under OSHANC; however, G.S. 95-129(4), 95-130(2), and 95-130(6) do not apply to migrant housing. For the purposes of this Article, the term: (1) "Employer" in G.S. 95-129, G.S. 95-130 and G.S. 95-136 through G.S. 95-142 shall be construed to mean an operator. (2) "Employee" shall be construed to mean a migrant. (3) Repealed by Session Laws 2007-548, s. 5, effective August 31, 2007. (b) The Commissioner may establish a new division to enforce this Article. (c) The Department of Labor of North Carolina shall maintain a list of operators and the physical address of their migrant housing units, number of beds, and the date of the annual preoccupancy inspection and certification. (d) The Department of Labor of North Carolina shall maintain a summary of any inspections filed annually with the Division that enforce this Article, including the number and type of citations issued and the violations found, if any. (e) The Commissioner shall report no later than May 1 of each year to the Chairpersons of the Senate Appropriations Committee on Natural and Economic Resources, the Chairpersons of the House of Representatives Appropriations Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, the Joint Legislative Oversight Committee on Agriculture and Natural and Economic Resources, and the Fiscal Research Division regarding the number of annual preoccupancy certifications issued, the number of operators with one hundred percent (100%) compliance at the preoccupancy inspection, the number of postoccupancy inspections conducted by the Department of Labor of North Carolina, the number and type of citations and fines issued, the total number of migrant worker beds in the State, and the identification of operators who fail to apply for or obtain permits to operate migrant housing pursuant to this Article. (1989, c. 91, s. 2; 1997-35, s. 1; 2007-548, s. 5; 2017-57, s. 14.1(pp).)
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-227 establishes how North Carolina's migrant housing standards are enforced by incorporating the enforcement mechanisms already used under the state's occupational safety law (OSHANC), with operators of migrant housing treated similarly to employers and migrants treated similarly to employees. The Department of Labor is required to maintain records of operators, their housing units, inspection dates, and a summary of citations and violations. Each year, the Commissioner must report to designated legislative committees on compliance rates, inspections, citations, fines, and operators who fail to obtain required permits.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-227, operators of migrant housing are subject to the same enforcement tools—including inspections, citations, and fines—that apply to employers under OSHANC. Compliant operators generally obtain the required preoccupancy permits, maintain housing that meets applicable standards, and cooperate with Department of Labor inspections both before and after occupancy. Because the Department of Labor maintains a public list of operators and their compliance history, and reports that information annually to the legislature, operators' records are subject to ongoing governmental scrutiny.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-227 gives migrant workers housed by operators the same general protections that employees have under North Carolina's occupational safety enforcement framework, including the right to have housing inspected and violations cited. Migrants who believe their housing does not meet the required standards may contact the North Carolina Department of Labor, which is responsible for conducting inspections and tracking violations under this Article. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services that focus on farmworker or migrant worker issues can help individuals understand what enforcement options may be available to them.
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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