North Carolina’s largest DMV office is now open in Charlotte, bringing more capacity and new technology to one of the state’s busiest regions.

Gov. Josh Stein cut the ribbon Monday at the relocated East Charlotte Driver License Office. The facility is located at 5525 Albemarle Road, Suite 200.

“Every North Carolinian relies on the DMV at some point – and they want to get in, get out, and get on with their day,” said Governor Josh Stein in a press release. “We’re making steady progress to shorten wait times, provide better service, and improve the DMV experience statewide. To date, we have cut wait times by 86%. We will continue our work to get people back on the road safely and efficiently.”

The opening comes as NCDMV rolls out several technology and service upgrades Charlotte drivers can now use:

• Live online wait times showing current conditions at driver license offices before customers leave home.
• Online document quizzes that tell customers which identification and paperwork they need before arriving.
• Phone-based document uploads for items including insurance records, proof of address and teen driving logs.
• New document scanners installed at every driver license office to speed paperwork processing.
• Digital check-in and remote waiting, allowing customers to receive alerts instead of sitting inside the office.
• More transactions completed entirely online, eliminating an office visit for hundreds of thousands of residents.
• Mobile driver licenses planned for early 2027 through a new North Carolina digital wallet.
• NCMAX, a new cloud-based platform being developed to replace the state’s aging driver license computer system.

The improvements are already affecting wait times. As of August, the statewide average had fallen to 23 minutes, down 86% from one year earlier.

North Carolina has also filled 64 additional driver license examiner positions. Another 68 positions are authorized through July 2027, with recruiting underway.

More than 400,000 residents have also gained access to transactions they can complete remotely instead of visiting a DMV office.

The Charlotte project is one of four major DMV facility upgrades funded through House Bill 125. Five additional offices are scheduled to open or relocate in 2027.

For Charlotte drivers, the new Albemarle Road office combines more physical capacity with a broader push toward faster, increasingly digital DMV service.

Charlotte teenagers will soon face a much earlier bedtime under a sweeping new citywide curfew that was just approved.

Last night, the Charlotte City Council voted 9-2 to require everyone under 18 to follow a 10 p.m. curfew. The rule takes effect November 1.

The curfew will run from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. every night through August 31, 2027. City leaders approved it as a 10-month pilot rather than a permanent change.

The measure follows months of concerns about large teen gatherings, street takeovers and other public-safety problems. CMPD arrested dozens of teenagers during several large gatherings over the summer.

Police originally recommended an even stricter 9 p.m. curfew for everyone under 18. Council ultimately settled on the 10 p.m. starting time.

Charlotte’s previous rules depended on age. Children 12 and younger faced a 10 p.m. curfew, while ages 13 through 15 faced 11 p.m.

The new ordinance also brings 16- and 17-year-olds under the curfew for the first time. However, several exceptions will remain.

Minors can still be outside for jobs, school activities, religious events and emergencies. They can also remain out with a parent or qualifying guardian.

CMPD Chief Estella Patterson said officers could cite minors and parents when violations occur. Police would not stop vehicles solely because officers suspect a curfew violation.

The city will track enforcement and youth-related incidents during the pilot period. Officials will then evaluate whether the earlier curfew should become permanent.

The new policy marks one of Charlotte’s biggest youth-curfew changes in years. Beginning November 1, the same 10 p.m. rule will apply to nearly every minor citywide.

Currently, the overall median rent in the city stands at $1,378, roughly the same as last month. Prices are now down 2.6% year-over-year. Read on to learn more about what’s been happening in the Charlotte rental market and how it compares to trends throughout the broader Charlotte metro area and the nation as a whole.

Charlotte’s skyline is about to get another massive corporate logo, reigniting debate over how much branding Charlotte’s iconic skyline can absorb.

Huntington National Bank plans to install its name near the top of One South at 101 South Tryon Street. The illuminated sign will face South Tryon and become highly visible across Uptown.

“The addition of Huntington signage and our planned expansion at our regional headquarters in Charlotte are powerful reflections of our commitment to the Carolinas and the importance of this region to our long-term strategy,” said Huntington President Brant Standridge in a press release.

The sign will measure roughly 13 feet tall and nearly 89 feet wide. Programmable lighting will allow it to glow green or change colors for special events.

Rock Hill-based SouthWood Corporation will fabricate and install the signage.

The move follows previous backlash over corporate branding on Charlotte skyscrapers.

Truist faced heavy criticism after adding oversized signs to its Uptown tower. Thousands signed a petition calling for their removal.

Wells Fargo later drew similar debate after adding large letters to Charlotte’s iconic “handlebar” building.

Huntington’s new signage comes as the bank expands inside One South. It will occupy the entire 39th and 40th floors, bringing its total footprint to four floors.

The bank already employs several hundred people across the Charlotte region. It has also announced plans for roughly 55 branches across the Carolinas.

Huntington opened its Carolinas regional headquarters at One South in 2023.

Charlotte could dramatically tighten its youth curfew tonight, placing nearly every minor under a new 10 pm citywide restriction.

The Charlotte City Council is scheduled to vote Monday on a 10-month pilot covering everyone under 18. If approved, the new curfew would begin in November and run through August 2027.

The proposal follows months of concern over large teen gatherings, street take-overs, and other public-safety issues. CMPD originally recommended a stricter 9 pm curfew before council moved toward the 10 pm pilot.

Charlotte’s current rules vary by age. Children 12 and younger face a 10 pm curfew, while ages 13 through 15 face 11 pm.

The new policy would also bring 16- and 17-year-olds under the citywide curfew. However, several exceptions would remain in place.

Minors could stay out for work, school activities, religious events or emergencies. They could also remain outside with a parent or guardian over 21.

CMPD would enforce the pilot through August 2027 and then review the results. City leaders could later decide whether to make the stricter curfew permanent.

Council’s public forum begins Monday evening at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. A final vote on the curfew is expected during the business meeting.