County and Municipal Government in North Carolina

County and Municipal Government in North Carolina
2025 Edition

Edited by Christopher B. McLaughlin

Published June 1, 2025
978-1-64238-118-4

This reference book on North Carolina county and municipal government provides a comprehensive treatment of the legal foundations, organization, and the administration of the state's counties and cities. This book describes the legal framework and common administrative practices that are currently in use and explains what counties and cities in North Carolina do, and how they do it.

County and Municipal Government in North Carolina is designed to meet the needs of elected and appointed county and city board members and the employees who, on a day-to-day basis, carry out the functions mandated and authorized for North Carolina local governments. It will also appeal to citizens, civic leaders, high school and college students, state employees, legislators, members of the media, and any others who need basic information about the legal authority and responsibilities of North Carolina counties and cities.

About the Author

Chris McLaughlin works in the areas of local government tax and finance as well as ethics for government attorneys. He has authored books on property tax collection, tax foreclosures, and occupancy taxes and has published over 200 blog posts on a wide variety of issues including local taxes and legal ethics. McLaughlin joined the School of Government in 2008 after practicing law in New England and serving as an adjunct professor and assistant dean for student affairs at Duke Law School. McLaughlin is a magna cum laude graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business and Duke Law School, where he was also Order of the Coif.

In 2025, he was awarded the School's Albert and Gladys Hall Coates Teaching Excellence Award.

Top of Page

County and Municipal Government in North Carolina

County and Municipal Government in North Carolina