Chapter 66

No pawnbroker shall demand or receive an effective rate of interest greater than two percent (2%) per month, and no other charge of any description or for any purpose shall be made by the pawnbroker, except that the pawnbroker may charge, contract for, and recover an additional m…

In every pawn transaction: (1) The original pawn contract shall have a maturity date of not less than 30 days, provided that nothing herein shall prevent the pledgor from redeeming the property before the maturity date; (2) Any personal property pledged to a pawnbroker in this St…

(a) A pawnbroker shall not: (1) Accept a pledge from a person under the age of 18 years. (2) Make any agreement requiring the personal liability of a pledgor in connection with a pawn transaction. (3) Accept any waiver, in writing or otherwise, of any right or protection accorded…

(a) Every person, firm, or corporation, their guests or employees, who shall knowingly violate any of the provisions of this Part, shall, on conviction thereof, be deemed guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. If the violation is by an owner or major stockholder or managing partner of …

All of the counties and cities as defined by G.S. 160A-1 may by ordinance adopt the provisions of this Part and may adopt such further rules and regulations as the governing bodies of the counties and cities deem appropriate; provided, however, no county or city may regulate: (1)…

Notwithstanding any provision of this Part to the contrary, any person, firm, or corporation licensed as a pawnbroker on or before October 1, 1989, shall continue in force until the natural expiration thereof and all other provisions of this Part shall apply to such license. Such…

Every person, firm, or corporation licensed under this Part shall, at the time of receiving the license, file with the city or county issuing the license a bond payable to such city or county in the sum of five thousand dollars ($5,000), to be executed by the licensee, and by two…

If any person, who is not a legal or sworn inspector of lumber or other articles, presume to act as such, he shall forfeit and pay one hundred dollars ($100.00), and be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1824, c. 1254, s. 3; R.C., c. 60, s. 69; Code, s. 3046; Rev., s. 3580; C.S., …

If any person unlawfully sells, pledges, lends, or in any other way disposes of or permits or is a party to the unlawful selling, pledging, lending, or other disposition of any goods, wares, merchandise, or anything deposited in a public warehouse, without the authority of the pa…

The General Assembly finds and declares that precious metal businesses in North Carolina vitally affect the general economy of the State and the public interest and public welfare, and in the exercise of its police power, it is necessary to regulate such businesses, in order to p…

The following definitions apply in this Part: (1) Dealer. - A person who purchases precious metals from the public, other than by an exempted transaction, in the form of jewelry, flatware, silver services, or other forms and holds himself or herself out to the public by signs, ad…

(a) Dealer Permit. - Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, it is unlawful for any person to engage as a dealer in the business of purchasing precious metals either as a separate business or in connection with other business operations without first obtaining a per…

Any person who shall willfully commit perjury in any application for a permit or exemption filed pursuant to this Part shall be guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. (1981, c. 956, s. 1; 1993, c. 539, s. 525; 1994, Ex. Sess., c. 24, s. 14(c); 2012-46, ss. 15, 19.)

Before any permit shall be issued to a dealer pursuant to G.S. 66-407, the dealer shall execute a satisfactory cash or surety bond or establish a trust account with a licensed and insured bank or savings institution located in the State of North Carolina in the sum of ten thousan…

(a) Every dealer to whom a permit has been issued pursuant to G.S. 66-407 shall maintain consecutively numbered records of each precious metals transaction. Each consecutively numbered record shall be made at the time of the transaction and shall contain a clear and accurate desc…

No item included in a dealer purchase shall be sold, traded or otherwise disposed of, melted, cut or otherwise changed in form nor shall any item be removed from the licensed premises, or other location specified on the application for a special occasion permit, for a period of s…

No dealer or employee or agent thereof shall purchase from any juvenile under 18 years of age any article made, in whole or in part, of precious metal. (1981, c. 956, s. 1; 2012-46, s. 15.)

Any dealer who violates the provisions of this Part shall be deemed guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor. In addition any dealer so convicted shall be ineligible for a dealer's permit for a period of three years from the date of conviction. Each and every violation shall constitute a …

It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or operate a smelter in any mobile home, trailer, camper, or other vehicle or structure not permanently affixed to the ground, for the purpose of refining precious metals. Violation of the provisions of this section shall constitute …

The following definitions apply in this Part: (1) Cash card system. - A system of payment that provides payment in cash or in a form other than cash and that when providing payment in the form of cash (i) captures a photograph of the seller at the time payment is received and (ii…

This Chapter shall not apply to a salvage yard regulated pursuant to Chapter 20 of the General Statutes, unless the salvage yard is engaged in the business of gathering or obtaining ferrous or nonferrous metals that have served their original economic purpose and is in the busine…

(a) Receipt Required. - A secondary metals recycler shall issue a receipt for all purchase transactions in which the secondary metals recycler purchases regulated metals property. This receipt shall be issued to and signed by the person delivering the property, and the secondary …

(a) Retention of Records. - A secondary metals recycler shall keep and maintain the information required under G.S. 66-421(b) for not less than two years from the date of the purchase of the regulated metals property. Records shall be securely maintained at all times and shall be…

(a) Hold Notices. - When a law enforcement officer has reasonable suspicion to believe that any item of nonferrous metal in the possession of a nonferrous metals purchaser has been stolen, the law enforcement officer may issue a hold notice to the nonferrous metals purchaser. The…

(a) A secondary metals recycler shall not do any of the following: (1) Operate any business that cashes checks at a fixed site at which the secondary metals recycler purchases regulated metals property. (2) Purchase nonferrous metals for the purpose of recycling the nonferrous me…

Limitation on Cash Purchases. No nonferrous metals purchaser shall enter into a cash transaction for the purchase of copper, and no nonferrous metals purchaser shall purchase any nonferrous metal property for any cash consideration greater than one hundred dollars ($100.00) per t…

(a) Issuance of Permits. - The sheriff of each county shall issue a nonferrous metals purchase permit to an applicant if the applicant (i) has a fixed site in the sheriff's county; (ii) declares on a form provided by the sheriff that the applicant is informed of and will comply w…

This Part does not apply to: (1) Purchases of regulated metals property from a manufacturing, industrial, government, or other commercial vendor that generates or sells regulated metals property in the ordinary course of its business. (2) Purchases of regulated metals property th…

A county or municipality shall not enact any local law, ordinance, or regulation regulating secondary metals recyclers or regulated metals property that conflicts with this Part, and this Part preempts all existing laws, ordinances, or regulations that conflict with it. (2012-46,…

(a) Punishment Generally. - Unless the conduct is covered by some other provision of law providing greater punishment, any person knowingly and willfully violating any of the provisions of this Part shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor for a first offense. A second or subsequ…

The court may order a defendant to make restitution to the secondary metals recycler or property owner, as appropriate, for any damage or loss caused by the defendant and arising out of a violation of G.S. 14-71, G.S. 14-71.1, G.S. 14-72, G.S.14-159.4, G.S. 66-424(a)(3), G.S. 66-…

(a) Vehicles which are used or intended for use to convey or transport, or in any manner to facilitate the conveyance or transportation of unlawfully obtained regulated metals property, as defined by this Part, are subject to forfeiture, except that: (1) No conveyance shall be fo…

The following definitions apply in this Article: (1) Administrator. - A person that performs administrative or operational functions with respect to guaranteed asset protection waivers. (2) Borrower. - A debtor, retail buyer, or lessee under a vehicle finance agreement. (3) Credi…

(a) Complete Exemptions. - This Article shall not apply to any of the following: (1) An insurance policy offered by an insurer under Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, except as provided in G.S. 66-443. (2) A debt cancellation or debt suspension contract being offered pursuant t…

Guaranteed asset protection waivers are not insurance and are exempt from the provisions of Chapter 58 of the General Statutes, as are persons administering, marketing, selling, or offering to sell guaranteed asset protection waivers to borrowers. (2013-193, s. 1.)

(a) Insurance for Creditors. - Creditors may insure guaranteed asset protection waiver obligations under a contractual liability policy or other similar policy issued by an insurer but shall not be required to do so. (b) Required Terms. - Contractual liability or other insurance …

A guaranteed asset protection waiver shall include all of the following written terms in clear, easily understandable language: (1) The name and address of the initial creditor and the borrower at the time of sale and the identity of any administrator if different from the credit…

(a) Cancellation During Free-Look Period. - A guaranteed asset protection waiver shall include a term stating that if a borrower cancels the waiver within the free-look period, the borrower will be entitled to a full refund so long as no benefits have been provided under the guar…

(a) Article Controls. - The offering and sale of guaranteed asset protection waivers in this State shall be subject to the provisions of this Article. (b) Manner of Payment. - Guaranteed asset protection waivers may, at the option of the creditor, be sold for a single payment or …

The Attorney General may take action which is necessary or appropriate to enforce the provisions of this Article and to protect guaranteed asset protection waiver holders in this State. After proper notice and opportunity for hearing, the Attorney General may: (1) Order a credito…

If any provision of this Article or the application of the provision to any person or circumstances is held invalid, the remainder of the Article and the application of the provision to persons or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid shall not be affected…

The following definitions apply in this Article: (1) Aerial adventure/trekking park. - A self-guided challenge course that is supervised and open to the public, where access is controlled. (2) Canopy tour. - An aerial exploration or transit of the forest canopy, most commonly by …

(a) Insurance Required. - A person cannot own or operate a challenge course, zip line, or other similar device unless the person carries insurance coverage provided by an accepted insurer of at least one million dollars ($1,000,000) per occurrence and two million dollars ($2,000,…

This Article does not apply to any one or more of the following: (1) A challenge course or zip line installed at a private residence that is not open to the public and for which no fee is charged. (2) A challenge course or zip line owned or operated by the State, a unit of local …

The Commissioner must adopt rules to implement this Article. (2017-118, s. 1; 2025-25, s. 29(6).)

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law and subject to G.S. 66-471, the following entities shall have immunity from civil liability: (1) An essential business that provides goods or services in this State with respect to claims from any customer or employee for any injurie…

This Article applies to acts or omissions occurring on or after the issuance of the COVID-19 essential business executive order and expires when the COVID-19 emergency declaration is rescinded or expires. (2020-3, s. 4.14(a).)

The following definitions apply in this Article: (1) COVID-19. - The coronavirus disease 2019. (2) COVID-19 emergency declaration. - Executive Order No. 116 issued March 10, 2020, by Governor Roy A. Cooper, including any amendments issued by executive order, subject to extensions…

This Article shall be liberally construed to effectuate the public purpose of ensuring that essential businesses can provide goods and services to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. The provisions of this Article are severable. If any part of this Article is declared to be …

The purpose of this Article is to provide a framework within which vehicle value protection agreements are defined and may be offered within this State. (2021-172, s. 3.)