Land use regulation affects everyone in one manner or another.  Our homes, schools, businesses, roads and parks are all subject to local government regulation as to their location, construction and how they may be used.  In North Carolina, all city and county zoning and planning regulations derive their power from state law.  That is, if a city or county cannot find authority within state statutes to take a particular action, it may not do so unless and until the legislature grants such authority.

NC Zoning Regulations

The state of North Carolina grants zoning authority primarily under two sections of the General Statutes: Article 19 of Chapter 160A for cities; and Article 18 of Chapter 153A for counties.  These provisions were compiled into these chapters in 1973, and in the decades since then provisions have been added, amended and repealed to become what nearly everyone agrees is a very disorganized and often confusing compilation of regulations.  Local governments had difficulty determining how to validly adopt and administer ordinances based upon this hodgepodge of laws.  Developers were often similarly bewildered.

As early as 2015, efforts began to “reorganize, consolidate, clarify and modernize” statutes related to local land use planning and zoning regulations.  On July 11, 2019 Governor Cooper signed into law Session Law 2019-111, creating a new chapter of the General Statutes, Chapter 160D, containing 14 Articles and additional statutes clarifying and conforming statutes contained in other chapters of the General Statutes.  The former Chapters regulating local land use planning are repealed as of the effective date of the new law, January 1, 2021.

A New Chapter

As described in the North Carolina School of Government’s Legislative Reporting Service, here are some highlights of Chapter 160D:

• Includes a new Definitions section, defining terms such as bona fide farm purposes, conditional zoning, etc.
• Clarifies the law regarding vested rights.
• Contains provisions governing the subject matter and procedure for adopting moratoria on development.
• Amends Conflicts of Interest laws as they apply to local elected and appointed officials.
• Amends the law regarding the exercise by cities of extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) over zoning.
• Brings together provisions for the establishment and procedures for Planning Boards, Boards of Adjustment, Historic Preservation Boards and Appearance Commissions.
• Requires all members of appointed boards to take an oath of office.
• Establishes sunset provisions for substantial commencement of work following development approval.
• Provides for appeals of administrative decisions and includes timelines and procedures for such appeals.
• Includes Requirements and Procedures for Quasi-Judicial hearings for some land use decisions, such as appeals of administrative decisions, special use permits and variances.
• Restates requirements for Comprehensive Plans as a condition for enforcement and application of zoning ordinances. Allows for the adoption and use of narrower comprehensive plans to cover smaller geographic areas within a jurisdiction or to deal with subjects such as transportation and greenspace preservation.
• The procedures for adopting, amending or repealing Development Regulations are clarified, particularly with regard to notice requirements.
• Classifications of Zoning Districts are limited to the following: 1) conventional districts; 2) conditional districts; 3) farm-based districts; 4) overlay districts; and 5) special districts allowed by Charters.
• Allows administrative staff changes for minor modifications in conditional districts and for special use permits.
• Consolidates and clarifies Subdivision Regulation Ordinances.
• Chapter 160D also provides for regulation of particular kinds of land uses (e.g., adult businesses, agricultural uses, etc.), manufactured and modular homes, historic districts, environmental regulation, wireless telecommunication facilities, community appearance commissions, development agreements, solar collectors, and more.
• Articles under Chapter 160D also address Building Code Enforcement, Minimum Housing Codes, Open Space Acquisition and Community Development.

Compliance with the provisions of Chapter 160D will require nearly all counties and municipalities to adopt and/or amend their land development regulations as of the effective date of this legislation, January 1, 2021. Land developers may see changes prior to this date.  It is recommended that developers consult with county and municipal staff to stay current on local regulation changes.  Blanco Tackabery has attorneys who are skilled in this area to assist you.

About the Author

Bowen C. Houff

Bo has been practicing law for over 30 years. His practice is concentrated primarily in the areas of municipal law, zoning and business litigation. He regularly represents Municipal councils Boards and committees as well as developers seeking rezoning of land, special and conditional use permits and favorable interpretations of zoning ordinances.

If you have some experience with contracts, you’ve likely heard the phrase “liquidated damages.” While this term might sound mysterious to many people, the concept is relatively easy to understand. Liquidated damages are basically an agreed-upon amount of money that a party to a contract will be required to pay in the event that the party breaches the contract.

Use of a liquidated damages provision can be effective at avoiding costly disputes over how much financial harm was caused by a breach of contract. However, these provisions are not always enforceable and should be crafted with care.

What’s the Problem?

The crux of a liquidated damages provision is that it is to be used in a situation where you can’t easily determine what “actual damages” would be caused by the breach. So, to avoid the difficult exercise of proving actual financial harm, the parties will stipulate to an amount that they think is reasonable.

For example, let’s say that a shopping center rents a space to a tenant to operate a business. The lease requires the tenant to be open for business every day. The parties understand that, if one tenant in the shopping center “goes dark” and is not operating, the shopping center as a whole will be less vibrant, have less customer traffic, and be less profitable. The parties also understand, however, that – if one business in the center violates the agreement by not continuously operating – it will be very difficult to establish exactly how much money was lost by the shopping center. Therefore, the parties agree to an amount of liquidated damages that will be imposed in the event that a tenant stops operating, so that the center is not required to provide evidence of its actual financial damages (which may be impossible to calculate).

The trick with liquidated damages provisions is that their enforceability is often subject to debate. If the liquidated damages are not reasonable, then a court may deem them to be an unenforceable “penalty.” As stated by North Carolina courts: “A stipulated sum is for liquidated damages only (1) where the damages which the parties might reasonably anticipate are difficult to ascertain because of their indefiniteness or uncertainty and (2) where the amount stipulated is either a reasonable estimate of the damages which would probably be caused by a breach or is reasonably proportionate to the damages which have actually been caused by the breach.”

Notably, in the context of the shopping center lease described above, a North Carolina appeals court recently upheld a liquidated damages provision that required the tenant to pay double rent for each day that its business was not operating. The tenant did not show that the amount was unreasonable, according to the court. But what if the provision called for triple rent? Quadruple rent? Perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Use These Provisions Carefully

Liquidated damages provisions appear in a variety of contexts, addressing issues that range from delays on construction projects to buyers backing out of real estate deals. These provisions can be very useful. But before inserting a liquidated damages provision in a contract, significant thought should be given to whether the provision is necessary and reasonable. If a party could easily determine its actual financial losses in the event of a breach, liquidated damages are probably inappropriate. Furthermore, the amount of liquidated damages should be carefully developed on a case-by-case basis. Otherwise, a seemingly favorable liquidated damages provision may wind up being the subject of litigation – and ultimately may not be enforceable.

About the Author

Elliot Fus

Elliot has practiced law for over 20 years and is a member of the Federal, North Carolina and Forsyth County bar associations. He is an experienced litigator with major case experience in state and federal courts and in private arbitrations. Elliot also has a broad range of experience with landlord-tenant law and has assisted many of North Carolina’s premier shopping centers.

Owning a business is exciting at times, frustrating at others, but always demanding.  There are so many decisions to make on a daily basis, and often, as a business owner, you not only have to make the decisions, but must also roll up your sleeves to make those decisions bear fruit.  One decision you should make early as a business owner is determining who will be your trusted advisors to guide you through the legal and accounting issues your business will encounter.  Selecting a professional to assist you with legal and accounting decisions is vital to launching and maintaining a viable enterprise, because decisions made early in the formation of a business can have far reaching consequences down the road.

In my practice, I often see clients who chose to handle matters without engaging attorneys and accountants early in the process, and later failed to recognize issues as they arose during the day-to-day operations of the business. Those decisions can cost business owners far more money down the road than hiring the appropriate professionals in the beginning, and can have a significant effect on the ultimate success or failure of the business.  I have found those mistakes fall into seven basic categories. This is Pitfall number 7 of 7 common pitfalls I see businesses owners make.

Pitfall # 7 – Failure to Address Customer Relations

Written Contracts with Customers/Vendors — I cannot stress enough that the days of a handshake deal are gone. Businesses must have written purchase orders, invoices, contracts, leases and estimates to conduct business in today’s world.   Moreover, having it in writing avoids the stress, confusion and misunderstandings between the business and the customer when it comes time to deliver the goods or services and get paid. Business owners should have a business attorney draft sound business forms for use by the company. The cost of doing so is just a fraction of what it costs to defend a lawsuit produced by shoddy forms downloaded from a free internet site.

Customer Service/Satisfaction — At the same time, “the customer is always right” has not gone out of style. There are so many options for customers in today’s marketplace. A savvy business owner will make sure the company’s employees are well groomed, pleasant, enjoying their job, able to address a customer’s issue, and make the buying experience a positive one the customer will repeat.

Monitor Internet/Social Media — From a reputational risk standpoint, the pervasive use of the internet and social media has created new challenges for business owners. Sites that offer customers the opportunity to evaluate a company’s performance or products should be monitored so any derogatory or unflattering information can be noted, addressed, and responded to, if appropriate. Word of mouth now has the potential to reach hundreds, if not thousands of potential customers.

Privacy Policy — Having a privacy policy is not just good business, it is legally required for any company that collects information about its customers. The law requires disclosures to customers about how the business uses the information it collects from them and whether it shares that information with affiliates or third parties. Customers have a legal right to know how a company uses its information, and the company is required to publically disclose its privacy policy.

Protect Customer Data — Cyber security should be a consideration for any company in today’s business environment. All businesses are at risk of being hacked and having customer, employee, and other sensitive data compromised. Businesses should consult with an information technology specialist that can recommend safeguards to put into place to provide maximum protection of customer data. In addition, businesses may want to consult with their insurance provider to see if their general liability policies cover cyber-attacks, and if not purchase separate cyber insurance to protect against the damage that can be done by a hacker.

About the Author

Ashley Rusher

Ashley focuses her practice on Outside General Counsel Services and Business Bankruptcy and Creditor’s Rights Practice Areas. She is an effective, results-driven advocate for her clients.  Her background of 30 years in business bankruptcies, distressed debt workouts, problem loan recovery, and real estate title and commercial litigation provides her with a solid foundation of general business, accounting and legal skills.

If you have some experience with contracts, you’ve likely heard the phrase “liquidated damages.” While this term might sound mysterious to many people, the concept is relatively easy to understand. Liquidated damages are basically an agreed-upon amount of money that a party to a contract will be required to pay in the event that the party breaches the contract.

Use of a liquidated damages provision can be effective at avoiding costly disputes over how much financial harm was caused by a breach of contract. However, these provisions are not always enforceable and should be crafted with care.

What’s the Problem?

The crux of a liquidated damages provision is that it is to be used in a situation where you can’t easily determine what “actual damages” would be caused by the breach. So, to avoid the difficult exercise of proving actual financial harm, the parties will stipulate to an amount that they think is reasonable.

For example, let’s say that a shopping center rents a space to a tenant to operate a business. The lease requires the tenant to be open for business every day. The parties understand that, if one tenant in the shopping center “goes dark” and is not operating, the shopping center as a whole will be less vibrant, have less customer traffic, and be less profitable. The parties also understand, however, that – if one business in the center violates the agreement by not continuously operating – it will be very difficult to establish exactly how much money was lost by the shopping center. Therefore, the parties agree to an amount of liquidated damages that will be imposed in the event that a tenant stops operating, so that the center is not required to provide evidence of its actual financial damages (which may be impossible to calculate).

The trick with liquidated damages provisions is that their enforceability is often subject to debate. If the liquidated damages are not reasonable, then a court may deem them to be an unenforceable “penalty.” As stated by North Carolina courts: “A stipulated sum is for liquidated damages only (1) where the damages which the parties might reasonably anticipate are difficult to ascertain because of their indefiniteness or uncertainty and (2) where the amount stipulated is either a reasonable estimate of the damages which would probably be caused by a breach or is reasonably proportionate to the damages which have actually been caused by the breach.”

Notably, in the context of the shopping center lease described above, a North Carolina appeals court recently upheld a liquidated damages provision that required the tenant to pay double rent for each day that its business was not operating. The tenant did not show that the amount was unreasonable, according to the court. But what if the provision called for triple rent? Quadruple rent? Perhaps the outcome would have been different.

Use These Provisions Carefully

Liquidated damages provisions appear in a variety of contexts, addressing issues that range from delays on construction projects to buyers backing out of real estate deals. These provisions can be very useful. But before inserting a liquidated damages provision in a contract, significant thought should be given to whether the provision is necessary and reasonable. If a party could easily determine its actual financial losses in the event of a breach, liquidated damages are probably inappropriate. Furthermore, the amount of liquidated damages should be carefully developed on a case-by-case basis. Otherwise, a seemingly favorable liquidated damages provision may wind up being the subject of litigation – and ultimately may not be enforceable.

About the Author

Elliot Fus

Elliot has practiced law for over 20 years and is a member of the Federal, North Carolina and Forsyth County bar associations. He is an experienced litigator with major case experience in state and federal courts and in private arbitrations. Elliot also has a broad range of experience with landlord-tenant law and has assisted many of North Carolina’s premier shopping centers.

Imagine that you are a landlord and your tenant vacates the leased property in the middle of the lease period and stops paying rent.  You might assume that you have an iron-clad legal case against the tenant for breaching the lease.  However, if an allegation of “constructive eviction” arises, things might not be so simple.

Constructive eviction is a concept which means that, when the premises are intolerably bad due to the fault of the landlord, the tenant will be allowed to vacate without being responsible for breaking the lease.  In other words, the conditions are so bad that the landlord is effectively forcing the tenant to leave.  Or stated another way, the landlord is “evicting” the tenant by failing to provide decent premises, even if the landlord has not actually asked for the tenant to vacate (and, in fact, wants to the tenant to stay).

Untenable Conditions

Under North Carolina law, constructive eviction occurs when a landlord “breaches a duty under the lease which renders the premises untenable.”  Although the North Carolina courts have not defined the term “untenable,” presumably this term means that the premises are in such a condition that no tenant could reasonably be expected to stay there.  Exactly what conditions constitute constructive eviction are usually subject to debate.  Problems such as persistent building code violations, serious ongoing roof leaks, electrical problems or other safety hazards might provide a strong argument for constructive eviction.  Other problems (such as a bad odor, noise issues, etc.) may provide a less compelling argument, depending on the circumstances.

Importantly, if a tenant claims constructive eviction, the tenant must show that it “abandoned the premises within a reasonable time” because of the condition of the premises.  If a tenant stays in the premises for a long time, an argument of constructive eviction is unlikely to succeed.  After all, if a tenant actually stays in purportedly intolerable premises for many months before finally vacating, it seems hard to say that the tenant “had to” leave.

An allegation of constructive eviction can radically change the dynamics of a landlord-tenant case.  Whereas a tenant might usually owe the landlord money for prematurely vacating the premises, a tenant arguing constructive eviction can assert that the landlord was the party that breached the lease and seek money in court from the landlord for damages such as moving expenses and lost profits associated with being “forced” to move.

Important Considerations

The merits of a constructive eviction allegation will depend on the facts of each case.  Parties in a dispute about constructive eviction should consider, among other things:

• Does the case involve a residential or commercial lease? The expectations for what is intolerable may differ.  For instance, having no hot water for an extended period of time may be seriously problematic for a home, but only a minor nuisance for an office that rarely uses hot water.
• What are the terms of the Lease? Particularly in landlord-friendly commercial leases, the landlord’s obligations to the tenant may be extremely limited.
• Did the tenant timely abandon the premises? There is no set duration for what constitutes a “reasonable” time.  Sometimes, it may be infeasible for a tenant to immediately vacate when intolerable conditions arise.  However, the more time it takes to vacate, the less likely a constructive eviction argument will succeed.
• Did the tenant sign anything confirming that the premises were indeed satisfactory? In commercial leases, tenants are sometimes required to sign “estoppel” certificates to confirm that they are satisfied with the premises.  Once an estoppel is signed, the tenant may not be able to “change its tune” later and say that the premises were defective.
• Are there facts that show that the tenant really left the premises for reasons other than the condition of the premises? A business that has failed because of its own bad management or poor business model may attempt to use constructive eviction as an excuse to stop operating without incurring liability for a broken lease.  In a lawsuit, the landlord may want to explore relevant facts through “discovery” techniques such as document requests and depositions.

About the Author

Elliot Fus

Elliot has a broad range of experience with landlord-tenant law and has assisted many of North Carolina’s premier shopping centers in matters ranging from routine collection issues to complex jury trials.