§ 42-44. General remedies, penalties, and limitations. - North Carolina Statutes

§ 42‑44.  Generalremedies, penalties, and limitations.

(a)        Any right orobligation declared by this Chapter is enforceable by civil action, in additionto other remedies of law and in equity.

(a1)      If a landlord failsto provide, install, replace, or repair a smoke detector under the provisionsof G.S. 42‑42(a)(5) or a carbon monoxide detector under the provisions ofG.S. 42‑42(a)(7) within 30 days of having received written notice fromthe tenant or any agent of State or local government of the landlord's failureto do so, the landlord shall be responsible for an infraction and shall besubject to a fine of not more than two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) for eachviolation. The landlord may temporarily disconnect a smoke detector or carbonmonoxide detector in a dwelling unit or common area for construction orrehabilitation activities when such activities are likely to activate the smokedetector or carbon monoxide detector or make it inactive.

(a2)      If a smoke detectoror carbon monoxide detector is disabled or damaged, other than through actionsof the landlord, the landlord's agents, or acts of God, the tenant shallreimburse the landlord the reasonable and actual cost for repairing orreplacing the smoke detector or carbon monoxide detector within 30 days ofhaving received written notice from the landlord or any agent of State or localgovernment of the need for the tenant to make such reimbursement. If the tenantfails to make reimbursement within 30 days, the tenant shall be responsible foran infraction and subject to a fine of not more than one hundred dollars($100.00) for each violation. The tenant may temporarily disconnect a smokedetector or carbon monoxide detector in a dwelling unit to replace thebatteries or when it has been inadvertently activated.

(b)        Repealed by SessionLaws 1979, c. 820, s. 8.

(c)        The tenant may notunilaterally withhold rent prior to a judicial determination of a right to doso.

(d)        A violation of thisArticle shall not constitute negligence per se.  (1977, c. 770, s. 1; 1979,c. 820, s. 8; 1998‑212, s. 17.16(k); 2008‑219, s. 4.)