Is it legal to own a pet armadillo?
Prohibited
Nine-banded armadillos now live wild in NC, and keeping a native wild animal requires a WRC captivity license.
NC · State hub
North Carolina
Every QuirkMaps topic for North Carolina, grouped by category. Each answer links to the official source it comes from.
Exotic pets
Vehicles
Can car dealerships open on Sundays?
Sunday sales allowed
North Carolina has no statewide Sunday ban on car sales, though cities may adopt Sunday-closing ordinances.
Do adults have to wear motorcycle helmets?
All riders
North Carolina requires all motorcycle and moped operators and passengers to wear a strapped helmet meeting the federal standard.
Do you need a front license plate?
Rear plate only
North Carolina issues one license plate for a passenger car, and it goes on the rear.
Is it legal to pump your own gas?
Self-serve allowed
North Carolina allows self-service gas; state law regulates self-service pumps, and its fire code allows attended self-service stations.
Is it legal to put a train horn on a car?
Allowed with limits
North Carolina has no express train-horn ban, but making unreasonably loud or harsh sounds with a horn is illegal.
Is there an annual vehicle safety inspection?
Regular safety inspection
North Carolina requires an annual safety inspection before a vehicle's registration can be renewed.
Home & property
Are fireworks legal?
Sparklers and ground fireworks only
North Carolina allows sparklers, fountains and other ground or hand-held sparkling devices, but bans fireworks that explode, spin or fly.
Food & drink
Are happy hour drink specials legal?
Happy hour banned
North Carolina bans happy hour drink pricing; a drink discount must last a full business day and apply to every customer.
Is there a bottle deposit?
No bottle deposit
North Carolina has no bottle deposit law. Instead, bars and restaurants with alcohol permits must recycle their beverage containers.
Where can you buy liquor?
Government-run stores
North Carolina sells liquor only in ABC stores run by local government ABC boards.
Time & calendar
Does the state observe daylight saving time?
Observes DST
North Carolina observes daylight saving time and has not enacted a law to change it.
Money & taxes
Are groceries taxed?
Groceries exempt
North Carolina exempts groceries from its 4.75% state sales tax, but a 2% local sales tax applies to them.
Does the state have a lottery?
Has a state lottery
North Carolina has a state lottery, the North Carolina Education Lottery, created by the 2005 State Lottery Act.
Does the state have a sales-tax-free weekend?
No tax-free period
North Carolina has no sales tax holiday. The law that created its holidays was repealed effective July 1, 2014.
Voting & elections
Do you need an ID to vote?
Photo ID requested
North Carolina asks for photo ID, but a voter without one can sign an exception form at the polls and have the ballot counted.