Rules and Regulations

Proposed Rule Amendments

Construction PPE

The Department of Labor is amending 13 NCAC 07 .0201 to incorporate by reference a federal OSHA Personal Protective Equipment amendment to the existing Construction PPE standard found at 29 CFR 1926.95(c).  This amendment will make the NC Occupational Safety and Health Division's State Plan as effective as the federal program.  The filing has been submitted to the Office of Administrative Hearings in compliance with G.S. 150B-21.5(c1).

21.5 Filing 13 NCAC 07F

Periodic Review of Rules

The following reports are open for public comment from September 26, 2025 – November 25, 2025. Rules marked “necessary” will be readopted as if they are new rules through the permanent rulemaking process. “Unnecessary” rules will be repealed.

13 NCAC 07 - OSH 

13 NCAC 12 - Wage and Hour

Public Comments

A “public comment” is defined as a written comment objecting to the rule, in whole or in part, received by an agency from any member of the public, including an association or other organization representing the regulated community or other members of the public [G.S. 150B-21.3A(5)]. 

Comments should be sent to the following email address, dol.rules@labor.nc.gov, with "Rules Comment" in the subject heading. NOTE: This email address is only for comments on rules. It is monitored only during active rulemaking. 

The following NCDOL rules were previously approved by the Rules Review Commission on November 26, 2024:

The next step in the periodic review is for the agency to re-adopt the above listed rules. Note: All NCDOL rules may be found below under "About Rulemaking".

Direct Notification of All NCDOL Rulemaking

If you would like to receive future notices regarding rules undergoing rules review, which are open for public comment under N.C. Gen. Stat. §150B-21.3A, please request to be added to the NCDOL Rules Notification List by emailing dol.rules@labor.nc.gov.

About Rulemaking

This section provides information on administrative rulemaking, including verbatim adoptions of federal OSHA Standards. Notices of public hearings and periodic reviews will also be available here. 

If you are interested in being notified of any rulemaking activity, please email our Rulemaking Coordinator, Ashley Snyder, or call our Legal Affairs Division at (919) 707-7713.

OSH Verbatim Adoptions

OSH Verbatim Adoptions

Notices of Public Hearings

Public Hearings

Rulemaking Actions

Rulemaking Actions

Proposed New Rules

Proposed new rules and the rulemaking process.

About Laws and Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor enforces various acts set forth by the N.C. General Assembly. Administrative rules which define the acts are available on the Office of Administrative Hearings website.  Links to both the acts and administrative rules are provided below:

Boiler Safety Bureau

Uniform Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act of North Carolina

The Boiler Safety Bureau enforces the Uniform Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act of North Carolina, which governs the proper use and operation of all new and existing boilers and various types of pressure vessels and the investigation of incidents associated with such devices. (Last revised in 2017)

Boiler and Pressure Vessel Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Uniform Boiler and Pressure Vessel Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website. (Last revised April 1, 2022)

Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau

Amusement Device Safety Act

The Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau enforces the Amusement Device Safety Act, which regulates the use and operation of amusement and inflatable devices.

Amusement Device Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Amusement Device Safety Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Elevator Safety Act

The Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau enforces the Elevator Safety Act, which governs the design, construction, installation, inspection, certification, operation, alteration and investigation of accidents involving elevators, escalators and other special equipment.

Elevator Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Elevator Safety Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Passenger Tramway Safety Act

The Elevator and Amusement Device Bureau enforces the Passenger Tramway Safety Act, which governs the registration and inspection of ski lifts, funiculars and tramways to ensure the public is safe from unnecessary mechanical hazards.

Passenger Tramway Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Passenger Tramway Safety Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Mine and Quarry Bureau

Mine Safety and Health Act

The Mine and Quarry Bureau enforces the Mine Safety and Health Act to ensure that miners are properly trained and working in conditions and places of work free from recognized hazards.

Mine Safety and Health Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Mine Safety and Health Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Occupational Safety and Health Division

Occupational Safety and Health Act

The Occupational Safety and Health Division enforces the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which governs workplaces to ensure as far as possible all employers and employees safe and healthful working conditions through the prevention of injuries and illnesses via programs that provide education, enforcement and research.

OSH Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the Act. The rules for the Occupational Safety and Health Act of North Carolina can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

OSHA Standards

With certain exceptions, the N.C. Department of Labor adopts federal OSHA standards verbatim. When OSH Administrative Rules differ from federal OSHA standards, employers must comply with the state-specific rules.

Hazardous Chemicals Right to Know Act

The OSH Division enforces the Hazardous Chemicals Right to Know Act to ensure firefighters have all the information they need to respond to chemical emergencies and to ensure that citizens have access to sufficient information to make informed judgments about the hazards in their communities.

Safety and Health Programs and Committees

This legislation requires businesses with a workers’ compensation experience rate modifier (ERM) of 1.5 or higher to improve their workplace safety and health efforts.

Migrant Housing Act

The Agricultural Safety and Health Bureau enforces the Migrant Housing Act, which governs migrant housing to ensure safe and healthy housing conditions for seasonal agricultural workers in North Carolina.

Migrant Housing Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Migrant Housing Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Bureau

Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act

The Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Bureau enforces the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act, which protects employees against retaliation for filing workplace safety and health complaints and other protected activities.

Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Wage and Hour Bureau

Wage and Hour Act

The Wage and Hour Bureau enforces the Wage and Hour Act, which governs how employers make, keep, and preserve records of hours worked, wages paid and other conditions and practices of employment.

Wage and Hour Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Wage and Hour Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Controlled Substance Examination Regulation Act

The Wage and Hour Bureau enforces the Controlled Substance Examination Regulation Act, which protects individuals from unreliable and inadequate examinations and screening, and ensures procedural requirements for the administration of controlled substance examinations are established.

Controlled Substance Examination Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Controlled Substance Examination Regulation Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Verification of Work Authorization Act

The Wage and Hour Bureau handles complaints concerning alleged failure to properly check work authorization.

Verification of Work Authorization Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Verification of Work Authorization Act can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.

Private Personnel and Job Listing Services Acts

The Wage and Hour Bureau enforces the Private Personnel Services Act to ensure that companies providing such services comply with the licensing and fee requirements.

Private Personnel Administrative Rules

The N.C. Department of Labor adopts administrative rules, which provide further information regarding enforcement of the act. The rules for the Private Personnel and Job Listing Services Acts can be found at the Office of Administrative Hearings website.