Removal of Squatters from Private Property.

HB 984 creates a new legal process in North Carolina that allows property owners to request law enforcement agencies to quickly remove people who are occupying their private residential homes without permission. To use this process, an owner must file a sworn complaint stating that the occupants are not tenants, have no legal right to the property, and have been told to leave, while also confirming there is no ongoing lawsuit between the parties. If a police department or sheriff's office verifies the complaint, they are required to remove the unauthorized individuals within 48 hours and may arrest them for trespassing or other offenses. The bill also establishes that property owners must pay for police time if they request officers to stay on site to help change locks or secure the property, and it provides a way for removed individuals to sue for damages if the removal was done incorrectly.