State Government Agencies

State government agencies in North Carolina include those in the legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The executive agencies are the most numerous, including the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor, the departments administered by those elected to the Council of State, agencies overseen by gubernatorial appointees, other executive departments, independent executive agencies, and occupational licensing boards. These organizations, along with any entities with whom they contract to perform the public business, are subject to the requirements of North Carolina’s Public Records Act (G.S. 132).

Since 2017, all state agencies have used the Functional Schedule for North Carolina State Agencies to identify the appropriate disposition of their records. The Functional Schedule is divided into 16 functions of state government, and these schedules standardize disposition instructions across state government. The Records Analysis Unit conducts regular records reviews with state agencies and documents any changes in agency responsibilities.

Records management analysts are available to provide assistance with using the Functional Schedule. Analysts also conduct records management trainings and help facilitate the transfer of eligible records to the State Records Center. Analysts are assigned to work with specific agencies; refer to the Records Analysts for State Agencies page for analyst assignments and contact information.

State agencies appoint Chief Records Officers (CROs) to represent the agency in records management concerns. Current CROs are listed on the Chief Records Officers page. This page also details some of the responsibilities of CROs and any records liaisons who may assist the CRO. The Government Records Section has produced a manual to provide guidance for records liaisons. 

We encourage all state government agencies to have an approved electronic records policy in place. An electronic records policy is required if you have paper records you wish to scan and retain electronically rather than on paper. For more information on these procedures, refer to our Electronic Records in State Government Agencies page. 

The State Archives has developed certain tools to help state agencies implement successful, sustainable records management programs. These resources can be found on the State Agency Records Management Tools page and the general Records Management Tools page.