11/20/2025
Hurricane Helene relief in Western North Carolina: Expanded definition of building classification
On November 20, 2025, the NC Rules Review Commission approved the expansion of the Board’s definition of Building Contractor classification. The revised rule allows licensed general contractors who: 1) hold a Building Contractor classification with; 2) an unlimited limitation to construct “non publicly maintained bridges” if they have been pre-qualified by the NC Department of Public Safety, Emergency Management Division. Previously, only licensed general contractors holding the Highway Contractor classification were authorized to construct bridges of any kind. By expanding the Building Contractor classification, there is now a much larger pool of licensed general contractors who are authorized to construct residential bridges that were damaged and/or destroyed by Hurricane Helene, thus allowing western NC residents to more quickly and safely reach and rebuild their homes.
