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NC H814: Neighborhood Occupantless Vehicle.

Effective Dec 1, 2021 North Carolina · 2021–2022 session

Last verified Oct 12, 2026 · official bill text

H814 · where it stands

All steps complete
  1. Introduced Complete
  2. Passed first chamber Complete
  3. Passed both chambers Complete
  4. Enacted Complete
  5. Effective Since Dec 1, 2021
What do these statuses mean?
Introduced
Filed in the legislature; may be waiting for a committee hearing.
Passed a chamber
Approved by one or both chambers; awaiting further action.
Enacted
Signed into law, or became law without a signature or over a veto.
Effective date
The date the law says it takes effect. Once it has passed, the page shows "Effective" and the date. A court order can still block a law; if we know of one, the summary says so.
Dead / vetoed
Vetoed, failed, or the session ended without action.

In one paragraph

North Carolina's S.L. 2021-179 authorizes neighborhood occupantless vehicles: low-speed, fully autonomous vehicles designed to carry cargo with no occupant. New G.S. 20-121.2 sets the roadways they may use and their operating rules, and exempts a fully autonomous vehicle operated exclusively by an automated driving system from state equipment rules that exist only to support a human driver. It took effect Dec. 1, 2021.

Plain-English summary, written with AI assistance. The official text controls.

What it means for business

Autonomous delivery companies can run low-speed, occupantless cargo vehicles on permitted North Carolina roads without equipment designed for human drivers.

Key provisions

  1. Defines neighborhood occupantless vehicle: a low-speed vehicle that is also a fully autonomous vehicle, designed to operate without an occupant and used to transport cargo
  2. New G.S. 20-121.2: where such vehicles may operate and rules of operation, including pulling over when five or more vehicles are behind
  3. Fully autonomous vehicles operated exclusively by an automated driving system are exempt from equipment rules that only support human drivers
  4. Builds on the definitions of fully autonomous vehicle and automated driving system in G.S. 20-400
  5. Effective Dec. 1, 2021

Latest legislative action

Nov 10, 2021. Ch. SL 2021-179 (signed by the Governor November 10, 2021)

Topics and industries

Related topics

Autonomous Vehicles

Affected industries

TransportationTechnologyConsumer Protection

This page is general information, not legal advice. Summaries are AI-assisted and may contain errors; read the statute for the controlling text and talk to a lawyer about your situation. Full disclaimer · Report an error

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Same topic in other states

Indiana HB1072 Personal delivery devices Connecticut SB924 An Act Concerning Motor Vehicle Registration Notice, the International Registrat Arkansas HB1767 To allow the operation of a personal delivery device in pedestrian areas and cer Idaho H0528 TRANSPORTATION – Amends existing law to revise provisions regarding personal del Oklahoma SB706 Personal delivery devices; authorizing certain use; limiting certain jurisdictio North Dakota HB1418 Automated vehicle network companies and autonomous vehicle operations