Dive Brief:
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A proposal on its way to the North Carolina Legislature would strip cities of their power to dictate the design of new homes.
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Republican lawmakers have argued that some cities “had exceeded their authority” by regulating how many bedrooms a home may have or, in the case of one city, forbidding builders from duplicating a design on several homes in the same neighborhood.
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The North Carolina League of Municipalities is pushing for a compromise that would stop cities from regulating home designs in new neighborhoods, but would allow them to retain authority over additions to established communities.
Dive Insight:
The proposal is supported by the North Carolina Home Builders Association, but was killed by the state Senate when it was introduced in 2013. Political observers speculate that the measure is part of the Republican-controlled Legislature's effort to usurp local authority, especially in cities with Democratic councils.
In January, North Carolina installed its first Republican governor in 28 years, and for the first time in more than a century, both houses of its state Legislature are Republican. Since the GOP took control in Raleigh, Republican lawmakers have proposed a number of bills that would strip local governments of their long-held power over their own affairs.