Employment Preemption in Raleigh, NC (2026)
2 verified employment preemption rules for Raleigh, North Carolina, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Minimum Wage Preemption
Raleigh cannot set a citywide private-sector minimum wage. N.C.G.S. § 95-25.1(b) preempts municipal wage ordinances. The North Carolina state minimum wage in N.C.G.S. § 95-25.3 matches federal FLSA at $7.25/hour. Tipped wage: $2.13/hour cash + tips equaling $7.25.
Raleigh Minimum Wage: NC $7.25 State Floor — Local Wage Preempted
Heavy RestrictionsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.1(d)
§ 95-25.1. Short title and legislative purpose; local governments preempted. (a) This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Wage and Hour Act." [...] (d) The provisions of this Article supersede and preempt any ordinance, regulation, resolution, or policy adopted or imposed by a unit of local government or other political subdivision of the State that regulates or imposes any requirem...
Paid Leave Preemption
Raleigh cannot require private employers to provide paid sick leave or paid family leave. N.C.G.S. § 95-25.1(b) preempts local wage-and-hour mandates, and N.C.G.S. § 160A-20.1 bars cities from imposing employment terms on private contractors. North Carolina has no statewide paid sick leave program. Federal FMLA (12 weeks unpaid) is the only floor.
Raleigh Paid Sick Leave: Preempted by NC Wage and Hour Act
Heavy RestrictionsN.C. Gen. Stat. § 95-25.1
Article 2A. Wage and Hour Act. § 95-25.1. Short title and legislative purpose; local governments preempted. (a) This Article shall be known and may be cited as the "Wage and Hour Act." (b) The public policy of this State is declared as follows: The wage levels of employees, hours of labor, payment of earned wages, and the well-being of minors are subjects of concern requiring legislation to pro...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Raleigh city rules.
Employment Preemption in Wake County →