North Carolina General Statutes Chapter 160D. Local Planning and Development Regulation § 160D-201. Planning and development regulation jurisdiction

(a) Cities.--All of the powers granted by this Chapter may be exercised by any city within its corporate limits and within any extraterritorial area established pursuant to G.S. 160D-202.

(b) Counties.--All of the powers granted by this Chapter may be exercised by any county throughout the county except in areas subject to municipal planning and development regulation jurisdiction.

(c) Partial Jurisdiction Regulation in Cities and Counties.--If a city elects to adopt zoning or subdivision regulations, each must be applied to the city's entire planning and development regulation jurisdiction. If a county elects to adopt zoning or subdivision regulations, each may be applied to all or part of the county's planning and development regulation jurisdiction. A local government's planning and development regulation jurisdiction does not include an area in which it has ceded jurisdiction pursuant to an agreement under G.S. 160D-203.