NCREC wants to bump the annual broker‑renewal fee to $50

On June 18, 2025, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC) filed a notice of text proposing to amend Rule 21 NCAC 58A.0503 – License Renewal.

The sole change is financial:

Increase the broker license renewal fee by $5, from $45 to $50.

If adopted, the higher fee would be due when brokers renew online for the 2026-2027 Renewal Period.

How long has it been since the last increase?

The renewal fee has inched up only thrice in roughly the last 25 years:

Effective year	Renewal fee
1999	$35 (up from $30)
2004	$40 (up from $35)
2014	$45 (up from $40)
Proposed 2026	$50 (up $5)

So this proposal would be the first adjustment in 11 years.

How does $50 stack up against our neighbors?

State	Broker renewal fee*	Renewal cycle	Cost per year
North Carolina	$50	Annual	$50
South Carolina	$55	Biennial (June 30)	$27.50
Virginia	$125	Biennial (month of original issue)	$62.50
Tennessee	$75	Biennial	$37.50
Georgia	$100 online / $125 paper	Quadrennial (birthday month)	$25 (online)

*Most states charge the same amount to brokers and salespersons; amounts shown are the standard broker fee, rounded to the nearest dollar.

Take‑aways

• If you look only at the check you write on renewal day, North Carolina’s proposed $50 remains the lowest single‑payment fee among its neighboring states; the next‑closest is South Carolina’s $55.

• Some neighbors renew less often, so their annualised cost (fee divided by the length of the renewal cycle) can dip below ours. Georgia, for example, spreads its $100 online fee over four years, so the per‑year hit is just $25.

• The extra $5 represents an 11 % jump, but still less than $1 a month.

What happens next?

• Public hearing

  • Date & time: Thursday, August 14, 2025, 9:00 a.m.

  • Location: NCREC offices, 1313 Navaho Drive, Raleigh, NC

  Written comments

  • Comment window: July 15 – September 15, 2025

  • Submit to: Melissa A. Vuotto, Rulemaking Coordinator North Carolina Real Estate Commission P.O. Box 17100, Raleigh, NC 27619 public.comment@ncrec.gov

• Earliest effective date – July 1 of the fiscal year following adoption is typical; if the rule is final by spring 2026, the $50 fee would first appear in the 2026–27 renewal window.

Why this matters to brokers

• Budgeting – Brokers‑in‑charge who pay renewal fees for affiliated licensees will want to adjust their 2026 operating budgets.

• Advocacy – If you have feedback on the increase or ideas for offsetting the higher cost now is the time to let NCREC know.

Bottom line

Even with the bump to $50, North Carolina’s annual broker renewal remains competitively priced—especially compared with Virginia’s biennial $125. The Commission hasn’t asked for a fee hike since 2012, so a modest increase is not unexpected. Keep an eye on the rule‑making calendar, budget for the change, and consider adding your voice during the comment period.

What do you think about the NCREC's proposed renewal fee increase? Let us know in the comments or share with a colleague in an upcoming CE Class!

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References

North Carolina Real Estate Commission. “Proposed Rule Text – 21 NCAC 58A .0503.” (public hearing & comment information).

North Carolina Real Estate Commission Bulletin. “Change the annual renewal fee from $40 to $45.” 2012‑V43‑2.

North Carolina Real Estate Commission Bulletin. “Renewal Fee Now $40.” 2003‑V34‑1.

South Carolina Real Estate Commission. “Renewal FAQs.”

Tennessee Real Estate Commission. “License Fees.”

Georgia Real Estate Commission. Renewing Your Individual Real Estate License (PDF).

Virginia Administrative Code 18VAC135‑20‑130. “Fees for Renewal.”