GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2013

 

 

SESSION LAW 2014-94

HOUSE BILL 625

 

 

AN ACT relating to zoning provisions for temporary health care structures.

 

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

 

SECTION 1.  Part 3 of Article 18 of Chapter 153A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 153A‑341.3.  Zoning of temporary health care structures.

A county exercising powers under this Article shall comply with G.S. 160A‑383.5."

SECTION 2.  Part 3 of Article 19 of Chapter 160A of the General Statutes is amended by adding a new section to read:

"§ 160A‑383.5.  Zoning of temporary health care structures.

(a)        The following definitions apply in this section:

(1)        Activities of daily living. – Bathing, dressing, personal hygiene, ambulation or locomotion, transferring, toileting, and eating.

(2)        Caregiver. – An individual 18 years of age or older who (i) provides care for a mentally or physically impaired person and (ii) is a first or second degree relative of the mentally or physically impaired person for whom the individual is caring.

(3)        First or second degree relative. – A spouse, lineal ascendant, lineal descendant, sibling, uncle, aunt, nephew, or niece and includes half, step, and in‑law relationships.

(4)        Mentally or physically impaired person. – A person who is a resident of this State and who requires assistance with two or more activities of daily living as certified in writing by a physician licensed to practice in this State.

(5)        Temporary family health care structure. – A transportable residential structure, providing an environment facilitating a caregiver's provision of care for a mentally or physically impaired person, that (i) is primarily assembled at a location other than its site of installation, (ii) is limited to one occupant who shall be the mentally or physically impaired person, (iii) has no more than 300 gross square feet, and (iv) complies with applicable provisions of the State Building Code and G.S. 143‑139.1(b). Placing the temporary family health care structure on a permanent foundation shall not be required or permitted.

(b)        A city shall consider a temporary family health care structure used by a caregiver in providing care for a mentally or physically impaired person on property owned or occupied by the caregiver as the caregiver's residence as a permitted accessory use in any single‑family residential zoning district on lots zoned for single‑family detached dwellings.

(c)        A city shall consider a temporary family health care structure used by an individual who is the named legal guardian of the mentally or physically impaired person a permitted accessory use in any single‑family residential zoning district on lots zoned for single‑family detached dwellings in accordance with this section if the temporary family health care structure is placed on the property of the residence of the individual and is used to provide care for the mentally or physically impaired person.

(d)        Only one temporary family health care structure shall be allowed on a lot or parcel of land. The temporary family health care structures under subsections (b) and (c) of this section shall not require a special use permit or be subjected to any other local zoning requirements beyond those imposed upon other authorized accessory use structures, except as otherwise provided in this section. Such temporary family health care structures shall comply with all setback requirements that apply to the primary structure and with any maximum floor area ratio limitations that may apply to the primary structure.

(e)        Any person proposing to install a temporary family health care structure shall first obtain a permit from the city. The city may charge a fee of up to one hundred dollars ($100.00) for the initial permit and an annual renewal fee of up to fifty dollars ($50.00). The city may not withhold a permit if the applicant provides sufficient proof of compliance with this section. The city may require that the applicant provide evidence of compliance with this section on an annual basis as long as the temporary family health care structure remains on the property. The evidence may involve the inspection by the city of the temporary family health care structure at reasonable times convenient to the caregiver, not limited to any annual compliance confirmation, and annual renewal of the doctor's certification.

(f)         Notwithstanding subsection (i) of this section, any temporary family health care structure installed under this section may be required to connect to any water, sewer, and electric utilities serving the property and shall comply with all applicable State law, local ordinances, and other requirements, including Part 5 of this Article, as if the temporary family health care structure were permanent real property.

(g)        No signage advertising or otherwise promoting the existence of the temporary health care structure shall be permitted either on the exterior of the temporary family health care structure or elsewhere on the property.

(h)        Any temporary family health care structure installed pursuant to this section shall be removed within 60 days in which the mentally or physically impaired person is no longer receiving or is no longer in need of the assistance provided for in this section. If the temporary family health care structure is needed for another mentally or physically impaired person, the temporary family health care structure may continue to be used, or may be reinstated on the property within 60 days of its removal, as applicable.

(i)         The city may revoke the permit granted pursuant to subsection (e) of this section if the permit holder violates any provision of this section or G.S. 160A‑202. The city may seek injunctive relief or other appropriate actions or proceedings to ensure compliance with this section or G.S. 160A‑202.

(j)         Temporary family health care structures shall be treated as tangible personal property for purposes of taxation."

SECTION 3.  G.S. 130A‑250 is amended by adding a new subdivision to read:

"(14)    Temporary family health care structures under G.S. 153A‑341.3 or G.S. 160A‑383.5."

SECTION 4.  G.S. 131D‑2.1(10) reads as rewritten:

"(10)    Multiunit assisted housing with services. – An assisted living residence in which hands‑on personal care services and nursing services which are arranged by housing management are provided by a licensed home care or hospice agency through an individualized written care plan. The housing management has a financial interest or financial affiliation or formal written agreement which makes personal care services accessible and available through at least one licensed home care or hospice agency. The resident has a choice of any provider, and the housing management may not combine charges for housing and personal care services. All residents, or their compensatory agents, must be capable, through informed consent, of entering into a contract and must not be in need of 24‑hour supervision. Assistance with self‑administration of medications may be provided by appropriately trained staff when delegated by a licensed nurse according to the home care agency's established plan of care. Multiunit assisted housing with services programs are required to register annually with the Division of Health Service Regulation. Multiunit assisted housing with services programs are required to provide a disclosure statement to the Division of Health Service Regulation. The disclosure statement is required to be a part of the annual rental contract that includes a description of the following requirements:

a.         Emergency response system;

b.         Charges for services offered;

c.         Limitations of tenancy;

d.         Limitations of services;

e.         Resident responsibilities;

f.          Financial/legal relationship between housing management and home care or hospice agencies;

g.         A listing of all home care or hospice agencies and other community services in the area;

h.         An appeals process; and

i.          Procedures for required initial and annual resident screening and referrals for services.

Continuing care retirement communities, subject to regulation by the Department of Insurance under Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, and temporary family health care structures, as defined in G.S. 160A‑383.5, are exempt from the regulatory requirements for multiunit assisted housing with services programs."

SECTION 5.  G.S. 160A‑442(2) reads as rewritten:

"(2)      "Dwelling" means any building, structure, manufactured home or mobile home, or part thereof, used and occupied for human habitation or intended to be so used, and includes any outhouses and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith, except that it does not include any manufactured home or mobile home, which is used solely for a seasonal vacation purpose. Temporary family health care structures, as defined in G.S. 160A‑383.5, shall be considered dwellings for purposes of this Part, provided that any ordinance provision requiring minimum square footage shall not apply to such structures."

SECTION 6.  If any provision of this act or its application is held invalid, the invalidity does not affect other provisions or applications of this act that can be given effect without the invalid provisions or application, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.

SECTION 7.  This act becomes effective October 1, 2014, and applies to temporary family health care structures existing on or after that date. No county or city may impose a fee as authorized by Section 1 and Section 2 of this act on any temporary family health care structure existing on that date.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 25th day of July, 2014.

 

 

                                                                    s/  Tom Apodaca

                                                                         Presiding Officer of the Senate

 

 

                                                                    s/  Thom Tillis

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives

 

 

                                                                    s/  Pat McCrory

                                                                         Governor

 

 

Approved 11:55 a.m. this 1st day of August, 2014