GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA
SESSION 2003
 
 
HOUSE BILL 773
RATIFIED BILL
 
 
AN ACT TO ALLOW THE TOWN OF CHAPEL HILL TO REQUIRE SPRINKLERS IN BARS, CLUBS, AND OTHER SIMILAR PLACES OF PUBLIC ASSEMBLY.
 
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
 
 
       SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding any provision of the
State Building Code or any public or local law to the contrary,
including, but not limited to, Chapter 143 of the General
Statutes, a town may require by ordinance the installation of
sprinkler systems in public assembly occupancies licensed to
serve alcoholic beverages, other than restaurants as defined in
G.S. 18B-1000(6), as follows:
  (a) Prior to issuance of a certificate of occupancy:
       (1)  Any new occupancy to be established with a rated
            occupancy load exceeding 200 persons and serving
            alcohol under a North Carolina ABC classification
            of private club or retail on-site consumption of
            mixed drink or malt beverage; or
       (2)  Any new occupancy to be established with a rated
            occupancy load exceeding 100 persons and serving
            alcohol under a North Carolina ABC classification
            of private club or retail on-site consumption of
            mixed drink or malt beverage and that has any of
            its required egress points one storey or more above
            or below grade.
  (b) Within five years of the enactment of the requiring
ordinance:
       (1)  Any existing occupancy with a rated occupancy load
            exceeding 200 persons and serving alcohol under a
            North Carolina ABC classification of private club
            or retail on-site consumption of mixed drink or
            malt beverage; or
       (2)  Any existing occupancy with a rated occupancy load
            exceeding 150 persons and serving alcohol under a
            North Carolina ABC classification of private club
            or retail on-site consumption of mixed drink or
            malt beverage and that has any of its required
            egress points one storey or more above or below
            grade.
       SECTION 2.  This act applies to the Town of
Chapel Hill only.
       SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes
law.
       In the General Assembly read three times and ratified
this the 25th day of June, 2003.