New NC Law Gives Owners a Faster Path to Remove Unauthorized Occupants From Residential Property
New law means owners can bypass lengthy eviction proceedings when confronting clear cases of unauthorized occupancy or "squatting."
Holly Springs, NC, Aug. 11, 2025 — North Carolina Governor Josh Stein signed Senate Bill 55 (link) into law on August 6, 2025, creating a new legal process for the expedited removal of unauthorized persons from private residential property. The new law takes effect on December 1, 2025.
SB 55 was introduced during the 2025 legislative session to address growing concerns from property owners about delays in reclaiming homes from individuals without legal occupancy rights. Lawmakers crafted the bill to establish an alternative, faster remedy outside the traditional eviction process, focusing on situations where there is no valid lease, rental agreement, or ownership claim and the tenant has not paid rent or been otherwise authorized to live there. The law allows:
A property owner or authorized representative to file an expedited removal complaint with the clerk of court or magistrate.
A sheriff to serve notice within 24 hours, with a hearing before a magistrate within 48 hours of service.
An order for the occupant to vacate within four hours if the court rules for the property owner.
A $10,000 minimum appeal bond for occupants seeking to challenge the order.
Criminal trespass charges for failing to comply with a removal order.
Immunity from liability for law enforcement and property owners acting in good faith, except in cases of gross negligence or wrongful removal.
Pros and Cons
Supporters argue:
Property owners gain a faster, less burdensome method to reclaim their homes from squatters.
Law enforcement and courts get clear statutory authority to act quickly.
Prevents prolonged loss of rental income or inability to live in one’s own home.
Opponents caution:
There is a potential for wrongful removal if property disputes are complex.
High appeal bond could limit access to the courts for low-income occupants who might have valid claims.
The speed of the process could lead to mistakes if the identity or status of occupants is unclear.
For area homeowners, the law provides a path to bypass lengthy eviction proceedings when confronting clear cases of unauthorized occupancy. Law enforcement agencies will now be required to respond within hours rather than weeks, and unauthorized occupants could be legally removed in less than two days. The new law does not cover tenants with expired leases. They remain subject to existing eviction statutes.
Several states, including Florida, Georgia, and Texas, have enacted “anti-squatter” laws with similarly expedited timelines, often allowing removal within days. North Carolina’s SB 55 is among the most aggressive, mandating a hearing within 48 hours and removal within four hours of a court order. Like Florida’s 2024 statute, it imposes a substantial appeal bond to discourage frivolous challenges, but North Carolina’s $10,000 minimum is on the higher end nationally. Critics in other states have raised the same concerns about wrongful removals and due process.