Rep. Zenger files bill in North Carolina House to authorize private inspections for commercial buildings

A new bill filed by State Rep. Jeff Zenger in the North Carolina House seeks to streamline commercial building inspections by authorizing private inspectors and setting certification standards, according to the North Carolina State House.

The bill, filed as HB 831 on April 8 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Comm. Inspect. Efficiency Act.’

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

In essence, this bill authorizes inspections by private inspectors for commercial buildings to ensure compliance with the North Carolina State Building Code while expediting local government approval of sealed commercial and multifamily building plans. It repeals the marketplace pool of code-enforcement officials within the State Fire Marshal’s office and establishes requirements for private commercial inspectors, including certification and professional development standards. The bill allows local governments to use private inspectors and mandates that final inspection reports for commercial buildings signed by certified private inspectors be accepted by local authorities without additional inspections. It establishes specific procedures and forms for these inspections, mandates a payment guarantee for local government costs if inspection firms fail, and allows local governments to conduct fire prevention systems testing before issuing certificates of occupancy. These provisions will become effective on July 1, 2026.

Of the four sponsors of this bill, A. Reece Pyrtle, Jr. proposed the most bills (33) 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.

Zenger, a Republican, was elected to the North Carolina State House in 2021 to represent the state’s 74th House district, replacing previous state representative Wes Schollander.