GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 2003

SESSION LAW 2003-330

HOUSE BILL 440

AN ACT AMENDING THE CHARTER OF THE town of wentworth TO EXEMPT AGRICULTURAL LAND USES WITHIN THat JURISDICTION FROM ZONING.

The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:

SECTION 1.  The Charter of the Town of Wentworth, being Chapter 76 of the Private Laws of 1798, as amended by S.L. 1997-322, is amended by adding a new section to read:

"Sec. 5.2.  Zoning Exemption. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Town may not regulate or restrict agricultural land uses under its zoning ordinance. For the purposes of this section, an 'agricultural land use' includes 'agricultural land' as defined in G.S. 105-277.2 and property used for 'bona fide farm purposes' as defined in G.S. 153A-340(b)(2). This exemption does not limit regulation under this section with respect to the use of farm property for nonfarm purposes."

SECTION 2.  This act is effective when it becomes law.

In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 19^th day of July, 2003.

                                                                    s/ Beverly E. Perdue

                                                                         President of the Senate

                                                                    s/ James B. Black

                                                                         Speaker of the House of Representatives