153A-102.1. Notice of new fees and fee increases; public comment period.

(a) A county shall provide notice to interested parties of the imposition of or increase in fees or charges applicable solely to the construction of development subject to the provisions of Part 2 of Article 18 of this Chapter at least seven days prior to the first meeting where the imposition of or increase in the fees or charges is on the agenda for consideration. The county shall employ at least two of the following means of communication in order to provide the notice required by this section:

(1) Notice of the meeting in a prominent location on a Web site managed or maintained by the county.

(2) Notice of the meeting in a prominent physical location, including, but not limited to, any government building, library, or courthouse within the county.

(3) Notice of the meeting by electronic mail to a list of interested parties that is created by the county for the purpose of notification as required by this section.

(4) Notice of the meeting by facsimile to a list of interested parties that is created by the county for the purpose of notification as required by this section.

(a1) If a county manages or maintains a Web site, it may provide the notice required pursuant to G.S. 160A-4.1, 130A-64.1, or 162A-9 on its Web site at the request of a city, sanitary district, or water and sewer authority that does not manage or maintain a Web site of its own. Any county that elects to provide such notice shall post the notice to its Web site within seven days of the request made by the city, sanitary district, or water and sewer authority.

(b) During the consideration of the imposition of or increase in fees or charges as provided in subsection (a) of this section, the governing body of the county shall permit a period of public comment.

(c) This section shall not apply if the imposition of or increase in fees or charges is contained in a budget filed in accordance with the requirements of G.S. 159-12.