GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
1987 SESSION

CHAPTER 786
HOUSE BILL 749

AN ACT TO ENABLE THE COUNTY OF NEW HANOVER AND ALL MUNICIPALITIES THEREIN TO REGULATE REMOVAL OF TREES WITHIN THEIR REGULATORY JURISDICTION.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

Section 1.  The County of New Hanover and all municipalities therein are authorized to enact ordinances to regulate the removal of trees from public and private property within their respective jurisdictions in order to preserve, protect and enhance one of the most valuable natural resources of the community and to protect and enhance the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens.  Such ordinances by their terms may be made applicable to areas over which the entity is authorized to exercise extraterritorial jurisdiction pursuant to G.S. 160A-360 subject to approval of any other local government units having jurisdiction over the extraterritorial areas to be regulated.  The boundaries of any extraterritorial jurisdiction shall be designated utilizing the standards and procedures set forth in G.S. 160A-360 and may include areas under County or City/County jurisdiction with approval of the relevant governing body.
Sec. 2.  No ordinance enacted pursuant to this authorizing legislation shall apply to any agricultural land, forestland or horticultural land as defined in N.C.G.S. 105-277.2 located in New Hanover County or any city therein.
Sec. 3.  This act is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 12th day of August, 1987.