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Government
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Retention Schedules
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Local Government Schedules

Local Government Schedules

  • Retention Schedules
    • Draft Schedules
  • Records Analysts
  • Forms

Local retention and disposition schedules are a tool for the employees of local governments across the state to use when managing the records in their offices.  It lists records commonly found in local governmental offices, and gives an assessment of their value by indicating when (and if) those records should be destroyed. 

These schedules are an agreement between the local government office/department and the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, and as the inventory and schedule that the Department of Natural and Cultural Resources is directed by G.S. §121-5 (c) and G.S. §132-8 to provide. 

These schedules must be approved by your governing board before you are permitted to destroy records according to the schedule.  That approval should be made in a regular meeting and recorded as an action in the minutes.  It may be done as part of the consent agenda, by resolution, or other action. Please send a copy of the completed signature page to the Records Analysis Unit, Government Records Section, 4615 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-4615 or fax it to 919-715-3627. If you are unsure whether or not you have approved your schedule, please contact a Records Management Analyst.

If you have an item that not listed on your retention and disposition schedule, please contact a Records Management Analyst. The analyst will help to see if there is an existing item on the schedule that will allow to retain and dispose of the record. If the item cannot be found on the current schedule, the analyst will discuss the nature of the records with to determine if the records have historical value. If the records have historical value, we will discuss the possibility of transferring  the records to the State Archives to be preserved permanently.

If the records do not have historical value, we will ask you to complete a Request and Approval of Unscheduled Records Disposal if the records are not currently created. If the records are an active records series, the analyst will help you develop an amendment to the schedule so that you can continue to destroy the records appropriately.”

Local Retention and Disposition Schedules
Schedule Title Description
General Records Schedule for Local Government Agencies   The General Records Schedule for Local Government Agencies was issued on March 1, 2019.

Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Boards

The Alcoholic Beverage Control Boards Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on February 2, 2009.  Amendment was made to Standard 5 in 2014.
County Board of Elections

The County Board of Elections Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on April 4, 2012.  Amendments were made to Standard 8 & Standard 9 in 2013 and Standard 5 in 2014.

County Management

The County Management Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on April 15, 2013.  Amendments were made to Standard 4 in 2013, Standard 11 in 2014, and Standard 6 in 2016.

County Register of Deeds

The County Register of Deeds Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on October 10, 2012.  Amendments were made to Standard 2 in 2013 and Standard 5 in 2014.

County Sheriff's Office

The County Sheriff's Office Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on November 15, 2015.  Amendment was made to Standard 8 in 2016. 

County Social Service Agencies

The County Social Service Agency Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on July 1, 2016.

County Tax Administration

The County Tax Administration Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on April 17, 2013.  Amendments were made to Standard 5 in 2013 and Standard 12 in 2014.

County Veterans Services

The County Veterans Services Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on November 1, 2004.  Amendment was made to Standard 4 in 2014.

DMH/DD/SAS Local Management Entity (LME)

The DMH/DD/SAS Local Management Entity Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on October 26, 2011.  Amendment was made to Standard 5 in 2014.

DMH/DD/SAS Local Provider Agency

The DMH/DD/SAS Local Provider Agency Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on October 26, 2011.  Amendment was made to Standard 5 in 2014.

Local Education Agencies

The Local Education Agency Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on February 19, 1999.  Amendment was made to Standard 1 in 1999.

Local Health Departments

The Local Health Departments Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on March 1, 2019.

Municipal The Municipal Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on September 10, 2012. Amendment was made to Standard 9 in 2016.
Public Hospitals

The Public Hospital Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on May 13, 2002.  Amendment was made to Standard 4 in 2014.

Public Libraries

The Public Libraries Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on October 12, 2009.  Amendment was made to Standard 5 in 2014.

Public Transportation Systems and Authorities

The Public Transportations Systems and Authorities Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on April 1, 2006.  Amendment was made to Standard 5 in 2014.

Regional Councils

The Regional Council Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on April 15, 2008.  Amendment was made to Standard 5 in 2014.

Soil and Water Conservation Districts

The Soil and Water Conservation District Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on March 1, 2019.

Water and Sewer Authorities and Sanitary Districts

The Water and Sewer Authorities and Sanitary Districts Records Retention and Disposition Schedule was issued on May 1, 2016.

Retention Schedules

  • Local Government Schedules
    • Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) Boards Schedule
    • County Board of Elections Schedule
    • County Management Schedule
    • County Register of Deeds Schedule
    • County Sheriff's Office Schedule
    • County Social Service Agencies Schedule
    • County Tax Administration Schedule
    • County Veterans Services Schedule
    • DMH/DD/SAS Local Management Entity (LME) Schedule
    • General Records Schedule for Local Government Agencies
    • Local Health Departments Schedule
    • Municipal Schedule
    • Public Hospitals Schedule
    • Public Libraries Schedule
    • Public Transportation Systems and Authorities Schedule
    • Regional Councils Schedule
    • Soil and Water Conservation Districts
    • Water and Sewer Authorities and Sanitary Districts Schedule
  • State Agency Schedules
  • University Schedules

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State Archives of North Carolina

109 E. Jones St. Raleigh, NC 27601
4614 Mail Service Center

(919) 814-6840

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