How SB 569 changes current law

Compared against the N.C. General Statutes as published AI-generated reading aid — verify against the official bill.

The bill introduces a process for sealing summary ejectment records and makes it a discriminatory housing practice to deny rental applications based on such sealed records.

• G.S. 41A-4

  It is an unlawful discriminatory housing practice to deny an applicant on a rental agreement based upon a proceeding for summary ejectment that has been sealed pursuant to G.S. 42-36.4.

  This change prohibits landlords from rejecting rental applicants based on sealed summary ejectment proceedings.

• G.S. 42-36.4

  The clerk of superior court shall cause all records of all summary ejectment proceedings to be sealed and removed from publicly accessible records as follows: (1) After three years from the date the judgment was entered. (2) A pending proceeding where no decision has been entered. (3) A proceeding that has been dismissed or where judgment was entered in favor of the respondent tenant. (4) A proceeding that names a respondent that is under 18 years of age. For the purposes of this section, the term "seal" or "sealed" means the act of keeping some or all of the court record confidential and unavailable for public inspection. Nothing in this section is intended to limit or otherwise impair the docketing or execution of a judgment for monetary damages in connection with a summary ejectment proceeding filed under G.S. 42-26. This section shall not apply to summary ejectment proceedings filed under Article 7 of this Chapter.

  This addition establishes an automatic process for sealing certain eviction records to protect tenants' privacy.