AIA North Carolina Annual Goals
At AIA North Carolina, our advocacy efforts aim to strengthen the architectural profession, promote resilient design, and serve the public good. Each year, we focus on key initiatives that empower architects to shape public policy, engage with communities, and lead in advancing equitable and innovative practices. Together, we amplify our collective voice to protect the profession, influence legislation, and create lasting positive impact across the state.
2025 Legislative Day Issues - Blueprint For Public Safety
AIA Requests the General Assembly:
• Reinstate the structural sheathing inspection on homes.
• Reinstate the use of Appendix B for commercial projects
• Add architects back to the Building Code Council (SB 166 2024)
• Add architects to the new Residential Code Council (HB 488 2023)
• Pass comprehensive housing reform
Structural Sheathing
HB 488 (2023)
The bill eliminated sheathing inspections for residential homes in areas outside of 140mph wind zones. Building sheathing is not just an undercoat of a house on which to place exterior cladding. It’s an integral part of the homes structural stabilizing system, also known as shear wall.
Shear wall construction ties a home’s framing together to ensure stability and prevent it from collapsing in on itself. It’s one of the most important life-safety systems you can install in a home.
While it may be inconvenient to wait on inspectors to come and verify this critical life-safety system of a home, there has to be some compromise to reinstate this essential inspection.
Appendix B - Life Safety
HB 488 (2023)
The design industry supports the reinstatement of Appendix B, as it allows architects and engineers to highlight for code officials all the life-safety elements of a project on one summary page. It acts as a road map in the review process and streamlines the approval process for a commercial building project.
The elimination of the Appendix B will lengthen building department review time, removes an effective tool that easily identifies life-safety elements of a building, and puts lives at risk because of the elimination of sensible code oversight.
Housing
SB 495 – ADUs - Support
This bill legalizes one accessory dwelling unit (ADU) per lot in all areas zoned for single-family homes.
SB 497 – Expand Middle Housing - Support
This bill would legalize duplexes, triplexes, townhomes and even sixplexes in all residential zones, including those that currently only allow single-family homes.
SB 499 – Allow Housing Near Jobs - Support
This bill would allow residential development in all commercial zones by right – meaning no rezoning, no special permits, no political gymnastics.
SB 492 – Single Stair Building Code Reform - Amend
Would allow residential apartment buildings, up to 75 feet tall (6-8 stories) to be built with just one stairwell, as long as they meet strict fire safety standards which would include sprinklers. (Include amendments to send the issue as a study to the Building Code Council.)
2024 Legislative Day Issues
Opposition to certain SB 166 provisions – Building Code Council
The Proposal:
SB 166 would amend many current building code, development, design and construction, and environmental regulations.
The bill has more than 70 pages of provisions, almost all of which were inserted into the bill in the House a year after the bill had already cleared the Senate. Under the rules of the General Assembly no Senate committee will even be required to see this bill when it heads back to the upper chamber for a final vote.
AIANC has a concern with and/or is opposed to the provision outlined below.
Harmonize Elevator Requirements Between DOL & DOI
The Proposal:
Support legislation that will require the Department of Labor and the Department of Insurance through the Building Code Council to eliminate statutory conflicts as they relate to elevator installations.
Work Force Development for Architecture
The Proposal:
New Architect Recruitment Act (HB 431)
To amend the Architects Practice Act allowing the Board of Architecture to use their funds to support educational opportunities for programs that will attract individuals, including minority communities, to the profession and to allow the Board of Architecture to support other educational opportunities.
Open a New Accredited Architecture Program in North Carolina
To inform the General Assembly that there is a need for an additional accredited architecture program in our state and suggest that this year or next a feasibility study on establishing a program at one of North Carolina’s state HBCUs should be conducted.