58-45-5. Definition of terms.

As used in this Article, unless the context clearly otherwise requires:

(1) Association. - The North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association established under this Article.

(2) Beach area. - All of that area of the State of North Carolina south and east of the inland waterway from the South Carolina line to Fort Macon (Beaufort Inlet); thence south and east of Core, Pamlico, Roanoke and Currituck sounds to the Virginia line, being those portions of land generally known as the Outer Banks.

(2a) Catastrophe recovery charge. - Any charge collected by member insurers from policyholders statewide, including any charge collected by the Association and Fair Plan from their policyholders, upon issuance or renewal of residential and commercial property insurance policies, other than National Flood Insurance policies, after a deficit event has occurred as provided in G.S. 58-45-47. The amount of the catastrophe recovery charge collected in a particular year shall not exceed an aggregate amount of ten percent (10%) of policy premium. The catastrophe recovery charge shall be limited to the recovery of losses resulting from claims for property damage, allocated loss expenses, and actual costs and expenses directly resulting from the catastrophe recovery charge plan.

(2b) Coastal area. - All of that area of the State of North Carolina comprising the following counties: Beaufort, Brunswick, Camden, Carteret, Chowan, Craven, Currituck, Dare, Hyde, Jones, New Hanover, Onslow, Pamlico, Pasquotank, Pender, Perquimans, Tyrrell, and Washington. "Coastal area" does not include the portions of these counties that lie within the beach area.

(2c) Coastal Property Insurance Pool. - The name of which was formerly known as "the Beach Plan" and which is governed by the North Carolina Insurance Underwriting Association. All references to "the Beach Plan" shall mean the Coastal Property Insurance Pool, which is the market of last resort provided by the Association to the beach area and the coastal area.

(3) Repealed by Session Laws 1991, c. 720, s. 6.

(3a) Crime insurance. - Insurance against losses resulting from robbery, burglary, larceny, and similar crimes, as more specifically defined and limited in the various crime insurance policies, or their successor forms of coverage, approved by the Commissioner and issued by the Association. Such policies shall not be more restrictive than those issued under the Federal Crime Insurance Program authorized by Public Law 91-609.

(3b) Directors. - The Board of Directors of the Association.

(4) Essential property insurance. - Insurance against direct loss to property as defined in the standard statutory fire policy and extended coverage, vandalism and malicious mischief endorsements thereon, or their successor forms of coverage, as approved by the Commissioner.

(5) Insurable property. - Real property at fixed locations in the beach and coastal area, including travel trailers when tied down at a fixed location, or the tangible personal property located therein, but shall not include insurance on motor vehicles; which property is determined by the Association, after inspection and under the criteria specified in the plan of operation, to be in an insurable condition. However, any one and two family dwellings built in substantial accordance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, any predecessor or successor federal or State construction or safety standards, and any further construction or safety standards promulgated by the association and approved by the Commissioner, or the North Carolina Uniform Residential Building Code and any structure or building built in substantial compliance with the North Carolina State Building Code, including the design-wind requirements, which is not otherwise rendered uninsurable by reason of use or occupancy, shall be an insurable risk within the meaning of this Article. However, none of the following factors shall be considered in determining insurable condition: neighborhood, area, location, environmental hazards beyond the control of the applicant or owner of the property. Also, any structure begun on or after January 1, 1970, not built in substantial compliance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, any predecessor or successor federal or State construction or safety standards, and any further construction or safety standards promulgated by the association and approved by the Commissioner, or the North Carolina Uniform Residential Building Code or the North Carolina State Building Code, including the design-wind requirements therein, shall not be an insurable risk. The owner or applicant shall furnish with the application proof in the form of a certificate from a local building inspector, contractor, engineer or architect that the structure is built in substantial accordance with the Federal Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards, any predecessor or successor federal or State construction or safety standards, and any further construction or safety standards promulgated by the association and approved by the Commissioner, or the North Carolina Uniform Residential Building Code or the North Carolina State Building Code; however, an individual certificate shall not be necessary where the structure is located within a political subdivision which has certified to the Association on an annual basis that it is enforcing the North Carolina Uniform Residential Building Code or the North Carolina State Building Code and has no plans to discontinue enforcing these codes during that year.

(6) Repealed by Session Laws 1995 (Regular Session, 1996), c. 592, s. 2.

(6a) Named storm. - A weather-related event involving wind that has been assigned a formal name by the National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, World Meteorological Association, or any other generally recognized scientific or meteorological association that provides formal names for public use and reference. A named storm includes hurricanes, tropical depressions, and tropical storms.

(6b) Net direct premiums. - Gross direct premiums (excluding reinsurance assumed and ceded) written on property in this State for essential property insurance, farmowners insurance, homeowners insurance, and the property portion of commercial multiple peril insurance policies as computed by the Commissioner, less:

a. Return premiums on uncancelled contracts;

b. Dividends paid or credited to policyholders; and

c. The unused or unabsorbed portion of premium deposits.

(6c) Nonrecoupable assessment. - Any assessment levied on and payable by members of the Association that is not directly recoverable from policyholders. Prospective exposure to nonrecoupable assessments shall be considered as an appropriate factor in the making of rates by the North Carolina Rate Bureau.

(7) Plan of operation. - The plan of operation of the Association approved or promulgated by the Commissioner under this Article.

(8) Voluntary market. - Insurance written voluntarily by companies other than through this Article or Article 46 of this Chapter.

(9) Voluntary market rates. - Property insurance rates determined or permitted under Article 36, 40, or 41 of this Chapter.