Sen. Lowe files bill in North Carolina Senate restoring local zoning authority in Forsyth County

A new bill filed by State Sen. Paul A. Lowe Jr. seeks to restore local governments’ authority in Forsyth County to initiate zoning changes that reduce development density without requiring affected property owners’ consent, according to the North Carolina State Senate.

The bill, filed as SB 185 on Feb. 26 during the 2025 regular session, was formally listed with the short title: ‘Restore Down-Zoning/Forsyth Co.’

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

In essence, this bill restores the authority for local governments in Forsyth County, North Carolina, and its municipalities to initiate down-zoning amendments without requiring written consent from affected property owners. Down-zoning refers to zoning ordinance changes that decrease development density, reduce permitted land uses, or create nonconformities, except in residential zones. Effective upon becoming law, the bill applies retroactively to Dec. 11, 2024, thereby reinstating any ordinance changes affected by previous legislation, maintaining their status as of that date.

Lowe proposed another four bills 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.

Lowe graduated from Bishop College in 1985 with a BA and again from Drew University School of Theology with a DMIN.

Lowe, a Democrat, was elected to the North Carolina State Senate in 2015 to represent the state’s 32nd Senate district, replacing previous state senator Earline Parmon.