(A) County fire limits. A county may by ordinance establish and define fire limits in any area within the county and not within a city. The limits may include only business and industrial areas. Within any fire limits, no frame or wooden building or addition thereto may be erected, altered, repaired, or moved, either into the fire limits or from one place to another within the limits, except upon the permit of the inspection department and approval of the Commissioner of Insurance. The Board of Aldermen may make additional regulations necessary for the prevention, extinguishment, or mitigation of fires within the fire limits.
(B) Municipal fire limits. The Board of Aldermen of every incorporated city shall pass one or more ordinances establishing and defining fire limits, which shall include the principal business portions of the city and which shall be known as primary fire limits. In addition, the Board of Aldermen may, in its discretion, establish and define one or more separate areas within the city as secondary fire limits.
(C) Restrictions within municipal primary fire limits. Within the primary fire limits of any city, as established and defined by ordinance, no frame or wooden building or structure or addition thereto shall hereafter be erected, altered, repaired, or moved, either into the limits or from one place to another within the limits, except upon the permit of the local inspection department approved by the Board of Aldermen and by the Commissioner of Insurance or the Commissioner’s designee. The Board of Aldermen may make additional regulations for the prevention, extinguishment, or mitigation of fires within the primary fire limits.
(D) Restrictions within municipal secondary fire limits. Within any secondary fire limits of any city or town, as established and defined by ordinance, no frame or wooden building or structure or addition thereto shall be erected, altered, repaired, or moved, except in accordance with any rules and regulations established by ordinance of the areas.
(E) Failure to establish municipal primary fire limits. If the Board of Aldermen of any city shall fail or refuse to establish and define the primary fire limits of the city as required by law, after having such failure or refusal called to their attention in writing by the State Commissioner of Insurance, the Commissioner shall have the power to establish the limits upon making a determination that they are necessary and in the public interest.
(G.S. § 160D-1128) (Ord. passed 7-1-2021)