Rep. Setzer files bill in North Carolina House to restore local down-zoning authority

A new bill filed by State Rep. Mitchell S. Setzer seeks to restore local governments’ authority to regulate zoning changes without requiring unanimous property owner consent, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 25 on Jan. 29 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Restore Down-Zoning Auth./Stanly & Catawba.’

The following is our breakdown, based on the actual bill text, and may include interpretation to clarify its provisions.

In essence, the bill restores the authority of local governments in Stanly and Catawba counties, North Carolina, to initiate down-zoning without requiring the written consent of all affected property owners. Down-zoning refers to zoning amendments that either decrease development density, reduce permitted land uses, or create nonconformities on nonresidential land. The act applies only to the specified counties and municipalities within them, with retroactive effect from Dec. 11, 2024, ensuring that ordinances adopted under the amended regulations remain valid as they were on that date.

Of the two sponsors of this bill, Cody Huneycutt proposed the most bills (two) during the 2025 regular session.

Bills in North Carolina follow a multi-step process before becoming law. A lawmaker starts by filing a bill, which is assigned to a committee for review. The bill must be read three times in each chamber. If one chamber changes the bill after the other passes it, both must agree on the final version. Once both chambers approve the same bill, it goes to the governor, who has 10 days (or 30 if the legislature is not in session) to sign, veto, or let it become law without a signature.

You can read more about the bills and other measures here.

Setzer graduated from the University of North Carolina, Greensboro in 1987 with a BA.

Setzer, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 1999 to represent the state’s 89th House district, replacing previous state representative Robert Brawley.