North Carolina § 113-133 - 1. Limitations upon local regulation of wildlife resources; certain local acts retained.

§ 113-133. 1. Limitations upon local regulation of wildlife resources; certain local acts retained.

The enjoyment of the wildlife resources of the State belongs to all of the people of the State. The Wildlife Resources Commission is charged with administering the governing statutes in a manner to serve as equitably as may be the various competing interests of the people regarding wildlife resources, considering the interests of those whose livelihood depends upon full and wise use of renewable resources and the interests of the many whose approach is recreational. Thus, except as provided in subsection (e), all special, local, and private acts and ordinances enacted prior to the ratification date of the act creating this section regulating the conservation of wildlife resources are repealed. Nothing in this section is intended to invalidate local legislation or local ordinances which exercise valid powers over subjects other than the conservation of wildlife resources, even though an incidental effect may consist of an overlapping or conflict of jurisdiction as to some particular provision not essential to the conservation objectives set out in this Subchapter. In particular, this section does not repeal local acts which restrict hunting primarily for the purpose of protecting travelers on the highway, landowners, or other persons who may be endangered or affected by hunters' weapons or ammunition or whose property may be damaged. This Subchapter is intended to express State policy relating to the conservation of wildlife resources. Nothing in this section is intended to repeal or prevent the enactment of any city or county ordinance otherwise validly authorized which has only a minor and incidental impact on the conservation of marine and estuarine and wildlife resources. This section does not repeal G.S. 153A-127, G.S. 153A-131, G.S. 160A-182, G.S. 160A-187, and G.S. 160A-188, nor any local act establishing bird sanctuaries, except that local authorities operating bird sanctuaries may not regulate the taking of game or otherwise abrogate valid laws and regulations pertaining to the conservation of wildlife resources. Nothing in this Subchapter is intended to repeal or abridge the regulatory authority of the Game Commission of Currituck County or the Dare County Game and Wildlife Commission. Because of strong community interest expressed in their retention, the local acts or portions of local acts listed in this section are not repealed. The following local acts are retained to the extent they apply to the county for which listed: The Wildlife Resources Commission is directed to review periodically all local acts affecting conservation of wildlife resources and notify local authorities and the General Assembly as to those that: Substantially duplicate provisions of this Subchapter. Seriously conflict with conservation policies set out in this Subchapter. Seriously conflict with conservation policies developed for the people of this State as a whole by the Wildlife Resources Commission. Notwithstanding G.S. 113-133.1(b), Chapter 565 of the Session Laws of 1977 is retained in effect. The following local conservation acts which specify that they must be specifically repealed are so repealed: Chapters 434 and 441 of the Session Laws of 1977. To provide for their retention or repeal in accordance with provisions applying to all other local wildlife acts, the following acts are amended to repeal the cited sections: Section 11, Chapter 258, Session Laws of 1969; and Section 4, Chapter 585, Session Laws of 1977. Alleghany: Session Laws 1951, Chapter 665 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 526 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 556 . Anson: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1955, Chapter 286 . Ashe: Former G.S. 113-111; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 665 . Avery: Former G.S. 113-122. Beaufort: Session Laws 1947, Chapter 466 , as amended by Session Laws 1979, Chapter 219 ; Session Laws 1957, Chapter 1364 ; Session Laws 1971, Chapter 173 . Bertie: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 287 . Bladen: Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 550 , Section 2 (as it pertains to fox season); Session Laws 1961, Chapter 348 (as it applies to Bladen residents fishing in Robeson County); Session Laws 1961, Chapter 1023 ; Session Laws 1971, Chapter 384 . Brunswick: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 218 . Buncombe: Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 308 . Burke: Public-Local Laws 1921, Chapter 454 ; Public-Local Laws 1921 (Extra Session), Chapter 213 , Section 3 (with respect to fox seasons); Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 422 , Section 3; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 . Caldwell: Former G.S. 113-122; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 507 . Camden: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 362 (to the extent it applies to inland fishing waters); Session Laws 1967, Chapter 441 . Carteret: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1036 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 695 . Caswell: Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 311 ; Public-Local Laws 1937, Chapter 411 . Catawba: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1037 . Chatham: Public-Local Laws 1937 Chapter 236 ; Session Laws 1963, Chapter 271 . Chowan: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 184 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 582 . Cleveland: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 587 . Columbus: Session Laws 1951, Chapter 492 , as amended by Session Laws 1955, Chapter 506 . Craven: Session Laws 1971, Chapter 273 , as amended by Session Laws 1971, Chapter 629 . Cumberland: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 471 . Dare: Session Laws 1973, Chapter 259 . Duplin: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 774 ; Session Laws 1973 (Second Session 1974), Chapter 1266 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 466 . Edgecombe: Session Laws 1961, Chapter 408 . Gates: Session Laws 1959, Chapter 298 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748 . Granville: Session Laws 1963, Chapter 670 . Greene: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 219 , Sections 1 and 2; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 360 . Halifax: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 571 , Section 3 (with respect to fox-hunting seasons); Session Laws 1947, Chapter 954 ; Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376 . Haywood: Former G.S. 113-111, as modified by Session Laws 1963, Chapter 322 . Henderson: Former G.S. 113-111. Hertford: Session Laws 1959, Chapter 298 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 67 . Hoke: Session Laws 1963, Chapter 267 . Hyde: Public-Local Laws 1929, Chapter 354 , Section 1 (as it relates to foxes); Session Laws 1951, Chapter 932 . Iredell: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 577 . Jackson: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 765 . Johnston: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 342 . Jones: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 441 . Lee: Session Laws 1963, Chapter 271 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 . Lenoir: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 441 . Lincoln: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 449 , Sections 1 and 2; Session Laws 1955, Chapter 878 . Madison: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 418 , Section 4; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 1040 . Martin: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 . Montgomery: Session Laws 1977 (Second Session 1978), Chapter 1142 , Section 2. Nash: Session Laws 1961, Chapter 408 . New Hanover: Session Laws 1971, Chapter 559 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 95 . Northampton: Session Laws 1955, Chapter 1376 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 748 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 67 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 548 . Orange: Public-Local Laws 1913, Chapter 547 . Pamlico: Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 . Pender: Session Laws 1961, Chapter 333 ; Session Laws 1967, Chapter 229 ; Session Laws 1969, Chapter 258 , as amended by Session Laws 1973, Chapter 420 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 585 , as amended by Session Laws 1985, Chapter 421 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 805 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 546 . Perquimans: Former G.S. 113-111; Session Laws 1973, Chapter 160 ; Session Laws 1973, Chapter 264 . Polk: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 167 . Randolph: Public-Local Laws 1941, Chapter 246 ; Session Laws 1947, Chapter 920 . Robeson: Public-Local Laws 1924 (Extra Session), Chapter 92 ; Session Laws 1961, Chapter 348 . Rockingham: Former G.S. 113-111; Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 310 . Rowan: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 106 , and Session Laws 1977, Chapter 500 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 556 . Sampson: Session Laws 1979, Chapter 373 . Scotland: Session Laws 1959, Chapter 1143 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 436 . Stokes: Former G.S. 113-111; Public-Local Laws 1933, Chapter 310 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 556 . Surry: Public-Local Laws 1925, Chapter 474 , Section 6 (as it pertains to fox seasons); Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 167 . Swain: Public-Local Laws 1935, Chapter 52 ; Session Laws 1953, Chapter 270 ; Session Laws 1965, Chapter 765 . Transylvania: Public Laws 1935, Chapter 107 , Section 2, as amended by Public Laws 1935, Chapter 238 . Tyrrell: Former G.S. 113-111; Session Laws 1953, Chapter 685 . Wake: Session Laws 1973 (Second Session 1974), Chapter 1382 . Washington: Session Laws 1947, Chapter 620 . Wayne: Session Laws 1975, Chapter 269 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 342 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 43 ; Session Laws 1975, Chapter 343 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 45 ; Session Laws 1977, Chapter 695 . Wilkes: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1971, Chapter 385 ; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 665 ; Session Laws 1973, Chapter 106 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 507 . Yadkin: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1953, Chapter 199 ; Session Laws 1979, Chapter 507 . Yancey: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 522 . History (1979, c. 830, ss. 1, 14; 1979, 2nd Sess., c. 1285, ss. 2, 11; c. 1324, s. 2; 1981, c. 249, s. 2; c. 250, s. 2; 1983, c. 109, s. 2; c. 487, s. 2; 1985, c. 112, s. 1; c. 302, s. 1; c. 689, s. 27; 1986, c. 893, s. 4; 1987, c. 33, s. 4; c. 131, ss. 4, 5; c. 245, s. 2; c. 282, s. 16; 1987 (Reg. Sess., 1988), c. 955, s. 4; 1989, c. 80, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 837, s. 2; 1993, c. 65, s. 1; c. 221, s. 3; 1995, c. 509, s. 55; 1997-456, s. 26; 1997-496, s. 18; 2006-21, s. 2; 2006-226, s. 20; 2009-89, s. 1; 2014-115, s. 8; 2018-10, s. 2(b); 2019-107, s. 1(b).) Hunting in Greene County. - Session Laws 2010-82, s. 3(a), repealed Session Laws 1975, Chapter 219 , s. 3, relating to hunting of foxes during deer season, although it remains listed in subsection (e) of this section. Editor's Note. - Session Laws 2019-107, s. 3, made the amendment of the provisions concerning Cleveland County in subsection (e) by Session Laws 2019-107, s. 1(b), effective October 1, 2019, and applicable to offenses committed on or after that date. Effect of Amendments. - Session Laws 2006-21, s. 2, effective June 26, 2006, deleted "Session Laws 1979, Chapter 582 " following "Session Laws 1973, Chapter 264 " in the provisions pertaining to Perquimans County in subsection (e). Session Laws 2006-226, s. 20, effective August 10, 2006, deleted "Harnett: Former G.S. 113-111, as modified by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 ." preceding the entry for Haywood in subsection (e). Session Laws 2009-89, s. 1, effective October 1, 2009, in subsection (e), in the entries for "Burke" and "Caldwell," deleted "Session Laws 1965, Chapter 608 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 68 " preceding "Session Laws 1977, Chapter 636 "; in the entry for "Jackson" deleted "Session Laws 1971, Chapter 424 " from the end; and deleted the entry for "Mitchell," which read: "Mitchell: Session Laws 1965, Chapter 608 , as amended by Session Laws 1977, Chapter 68 ." Session Laws 2014-115, s. 8, effective August 11, 2014, in subsection (e), deleted "Session Laws 1975, Chapter 397 ," preceding "Session Laws 1975" in Polk and Rutherford and made a minor punctuation change. Session Laws 2018-10, s. 2b, effective October 1, 2018, in the list in subsection (e) deleted the entry for Davie County, which read: "Davie: Former G.S. 113-111, as amended by Session Laws 1947, Chapter 333 "; in the entry for Greene inserted "Sections 1 and 2" after "Chapter 219"; in the entry for Montgomery inserted "Section 2" after "Chapter 1142" and deleted the entry for Rutherford, which read: "Rutherford: Session Laws 1973, Chapter 114 ." Session Laws 2019-107, s. 1(b), effective Oct. 1, 2019, deleted "Public Laws 1907, Chapter 388 ; Session Laws 1951, Chapter 1101 " preceding "Session Laws" in the provision pertaining to Cleveland in subsection (e). For effective date and applicability, see editor's note. Opinions of Attorney General Legislature Has Preempted Regulation of Wildlife Resources. - The Legislature has reserved the regulation of wildlife resources to itself and has thus preempted the entire field, to the exclusion of all local ordinances except those which have only a "minor and incidental" impact on wildlife conservation (e.g., an ordinance prohibiting the discharge of firearms from public roads). See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. H.T. Mullen, Jr., County Attorney, Pasquotank County, 51 N.C.A.G. 85 (1982). County May Not Regulate Method of Trapping by Ordinance. - In light of the clear legislative intention to preempt the entire field of wildlife regulation, a county may not adopt an ordinance regulating the method of trapping wildlife. See opinion of Attorney General to Mr. H.T. Mullen, Jr., County Attorney, Pasquotank County, 51 N.C.A.G. 85 (1982).