Several bills filed in state Senate to increase NC's housing supply
A mixed-income housing project under construction in Durham. (Photo: Greg Childress)
A bill to expand so-called 'missing middle housing' statewide was one of four bills introduced in the state Senate on Tuesday as part of lawmakers' strategy to address North Carolina's housing crisis.
'Missing middle housing' refers to buildings with multiple units such as townhomes, duplexes and fourplexes that are placed into residential neighborhoods and serve as a middle ground between single-family homes and large apartment complexes.
Senate Bill 497 ('Expand Middle Housing') has bipartisan support. It was filed by Sen. Tim Moffitt, a Henderson County Republican and Sen. Julie Mayfield, a Buncombe County Democrat.
Under SB 497, a 'local government shall allow all middle housing types in areas zoned for residential use, including those that allow for the development of detached single-family dwellings,' the bill reads.
SB 497 also prohibits local governments from discouraging 'development of middle housing through unreasonable costs or delay, including zoning, development, siting, or design review standards that restrict middle housing types to less than three stories, or a floor area ratio of less than one.'
SB 497 comes as the state faces a five-year housing inventory gap of 764,478 units (322,360 rental units and 442,118 for-sale units), according to a recent statewide report commissioned by the NC Chamber Foundation, NC REALTORS and the N.C. Homebuilders Association.
Missing middle housing has stirred controversy in Raleigh where the City Council passed a plan to allow for denser housing — townhomes and duplexes, for example — to be built in some neighborhoods of traditional single-family homes.
Critics argue that such housing changes the character of neighborhoods and lowers property values. They also contend 'missing middle housing' can cause parking issues.
Carolina Forward, a nonpartisan, nonprofit policy organization, celebrated the four bills in a social media post. The organization also warned of expected pushback from community groups opposed to 'missing middle housing.'
'The NIMBY lobby is going to fight these pretty hard in the legislature. But support is growing to expand housing in North Carolina,' Carolina Forward said on X.
Moffitt and Mayfield also introduced three other bills to increase the state's housing supply:
Senate Bill 499 to allow housing development 'by right' in any area currently zoned only for commercial, office or retail use. The bill also allows the conversion of a building or portion of a building from commercial use to residential use.
Senate Bill 495 to permit accessory dwelling units (ADUs) statewide.
Senate Bill 492 to allow single exit-stairways in apartment construction of up to eight stories. Supporters see this change as a way to increase the supply of multifamily housing because requiring more than one exit-stairway in small apartments building make them more expensive. Meanwhile, critics cite safety concerns.
The legislation comes as lawmakers work to resolve the housing crisis made worse by Hurricane Helene.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Stanhope's first female mayor passed away — and then won re-election in Tuesday's primary
Voters in Stanhope gave Republican nominations to two incumbent council members in Tuesday's primary — including Diana Kuncken, a longtime public official in the Sussex County borough who died a week before the election. Kuncken, 83, died on June 3. The longtime Stanhope resident was first elected to the council in 1997. In 2004, she became Stanhope's first female mayor, serving eight years. In 2012 she returned to the council, serving continuously until her death last week, according to her obituary. Kuncken "passed away peacefully," according to the obituary from Leber-Lakeside Funeral Home, which did not list a cause of death. Unofficial results from the June 10 primary show Kuncken gathered 201 votes in the Republican primary while fellow council member Scott Wachterhauser received 233 votes. The third candidate in the race for two nominations on the November ballot was Najib Iftikhar, who received 85 votes, according to the county clerk's Democrats sought council nominations. According to County Clerk Jeff Parrott, the Republican party will select someone to fill Kuncken's unexpired term on the council. He said he expected the party will also select a candidate to replace her on the November ballot. The only other contested municipal primary in the county was a Republican race in Ogdensburg, where four candidates vied for two nominations to the borough council. More: Ciattarelli, Sherrill win NJ primaries for governor. Check our live blog for all results That race was led by Kristopher Gordon with 173 votes, followed by incumbent Brenda Cowdrick with 169. Councilwoman Caren Ruitenberg had 136 votes and Michael Nardini 160, according to preliminary results. Parrott said there were write-ins which could decide candidates in some Democrat races. Those must be tallied and the county must verify that the winner wants to be on the November ballot. This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Sussex County councilwoman wins GOP primary - a week after her death
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Rep. Mikie Sherrill wins Democratic primary for NJ governor, AP projects
TRENTON - Rep. Mikie Sherrill will win the Democratic primary race for New Jersey governor, AP projects, claiming victory over a crowded and competitive field of prominent current and former officeholders. The moderate congressional Democrat will fight to keep the Garden State blue as she faces Republican winner Jack Ciattarelli in the November general election. Because the New Jersey gubernatorial race is one of the first major elections since Donald Trump's return to the White House, there's a tremendous amount at stake simply through public perception. This is a breaking news update. Watch live election coverage in the media player above, and stay with us as this story develops. Sherrill, a former federal prosecutor and U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, was the establishment, left-of-center candidate in a crowded field of Democratic contenders. Most of her campaign messaging had leaned on her military experience and being able to handle conflict. "I learned early on: In a crisis, the worst thing you can do is freeze," she said. "You have to choose to lead," Sherrill has represented the 11th District, which includes parts of Essex, Morris and Passaic counties, since her 2018 election during President Donald Trump's first administration's midterm. Sherrill flipped the district from Republican control with former Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen's retirement and has been reelected three times since. Sherrill raised $2.8 million during the primary election, placing her among the top House fundraisers in the country. Before getting elected to Congress, she was a prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. She served in the Navy from 1994 to 2003. Born in Alexandria, Virginia, the 53-year-old now lives in Montclair, New Jersey with her husband. She is also a mother of four. During an interview with NJ Now, she said she would address the state's affordability issues by building more housing, investing in community solar to lower utility costs, and holding the grid operator PJM accountable.
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Jack Ciattarelli wins NJ Republican primary for NJ governor, AP projects
TRENTON - Jack Ciattarelli, the Trump-endorsed former state assemblymember, wins the Republican primary race for New Jersey governor, AP projects. Ciattarelli will fight to flip New Jersey red in the November election to replace incumbent Gov. Phil Murphy. Because the New Jersey gubernatorial race is one of the first major elections since Donald Trump's return to the White House, there's a tremendous amount at stake simply through public perception. This is a breaking news update. Watch live election coverage in the media player above, and stay with us as this story develops. Jack Ciattarelli, a moderate establishment figure in the Republican field, is making his third bid for New Jersey governor. Ciattarelli, a former member of the state's Assembly, initially ran for the New Jersey Governor's office in 2017 – he came in second place in the Republican Party gubernatorial primary, with 31% of the vote. His second attempt in 2021 proved more successful; Ciattarelli won the Republican Party gubernatorial primary, but lost the general election to incumbent Murphy. He received 48% of the vote to Murphy's 51%. In his third run, he received an endorsement from President Trump, even though he's received accusations of being a "never-Trumper" from the party's far right. His campaign focused on New Jersey's affordability crisis – his plan includes capping property taxes at 1% of a home's assessed value and reducing state spending by 30%. Ciattarelli has pledged to end New Jersey's Immigrant Trust Directive on his first day in office, allowing local police to cooperate with federal officials on civil immigration matters. He also plans to direct the attorney general to cease lawsuits against the Trump administration. In an NJ Now interview, Ciattarelli expressed willingness to work with President Trump while maintaining the ability to oppose policies detrimental to the state.