North Carolina is the first state to include affordable housing in their Fair Housing Act,

claiming to paving the way for progress in affordable housing. The Affordable Housing/No Discrimination Act (SB 810) expands the North Carolina Fair Housing Act by including affordable housing for those at 80% or below area median income as a protected class.

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It is now a violation of the law to discriminate in land-use decisions based on whether the development contains affordable housing. Al Ripley, staff attorney for the NC Justice Center said, “It will both help encourage the development of additional housing opportunities in North Carolina and will be seen as a model for other states to emulate.”

The Community Land Trust Property Taxation bill (HB 1586) helps to ensure the long-term affordability of Community Land Trust homes by clarifying the tax valuation process. Community Land Trusts provide sustained affordable housing by placing resale restrictions on the homes within the boundaries of the land trust.

HB 1586 guarantees that these resale restrictions are taken into account in the appraisal of homes, so that the homeowners are not overtaxed. It will help support the supply of affordable housing in the state and will result in a more consistent, efficient and equitable system of taxing land trust homes.

Affordable Housing was also included in the Congestion Relief/Intermodal Transport bill (HB 148). As transportation and affordable housing are inextricably linked, the bill requires municipalities to plan for 15% of the housing around transportation hubs be affordable to people at 60% of median area income or below. It envisioned the popularity of light rail will bring significant gentrification and displacement around the stations. This is aimed at ensuring low and moderate wage workers and transit dependent individuals can access the light rail network when it is developed.

SB 661 has, set minimum standards for rental housing across the state. It will ensure that all units to have safe wiring, flooring, roofs, and chimneys; access to water; operable locks; operable toilets; sources of heat; no rat infestation due to defects in the building; and no flooding problems. This legislation will help local governments address the supply of substandard rental housing that is unhealthy for residents and as well as a barrier to economic development in lower income neighborhoods.