North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160A. Cities and Towns § 160A-158. Mayor and councilmen ineligible to serve or act as heads of departments

Neither the mayor nor any member of the council shall be eligible for appointment as head of any city department or as acting or interim head of a department; provided, that in cities having a population of less than 5,000 according to the most recent official federal census, the mayor and any member of the council shall be eligible for appointment by the council as department head or other employee, and may receive reasonable compensation for such employment, notwithstanding any other provision of law.