North Carolina Administrative Code
Title 18 - SECRETARY OF STATE
Chapter 04 - CORPORATIONS DIVISION
Section .0500 - CORPORATE NAME
Section 04 .0502 - WORDS PROHIBITED IN ADDITION TO STATUTORY PROHIBITIONS

Universal Citation: 18 NC Admin Code 04 .0502

Current through Register Vol. 38, No. 18, March 15, 2024

(a) The words "engineer" or "engineering" or their derivatives shall not be included in the corporate name for a corporation unless it is organized pursuant to G.S. Chapter 55B or, if it is a foreign corporation, unless it complies with G.S. 55B-16, provided that the words specified shall not be prohibited in any case where such words are modified by another word or words in such manner as to indicate activity other than the practice of engineering as defined in G.S. 89C-3(b).

(b) The words "surveyor", "survey", "surveying", or their derivatives shall not be included in the corporate name for a corporation unless it is organized pursuant to G.S. 55B or, if it is a foreign corporation, unless it complies with G.S. 55B-16, provided that the words specified shall not be prohibited in any case where such words are modified by another word or words in such manner as to indicate activity other than the practice of land surveying by registered land surveyors as defined in G.S. 89C-3(7).

(c) The words "architecture", "architectural", "architect", or their derivatives shall not be included in the corporate name for a corporation unless it is organized pursuant to G.S. 55B or, if it is a foreign corporation, unless it complies with G.S. 55B-16, provided that the words specified shall not be prohibited in any case where such words are modified by another word or words in such manner as to indicate activity other than the practice of architecture as defined in G.S. 83A-1(7) or landscape architecture as defined in G.S. 89A-1(c).

(d) The word "co-op" shall not be included in a corporate name in which the use of the word "cooperative" is prohibited by G.S. 54-139.

(e) When a document is submitted conferring a corporate name containing the word "wholesale," unless the purpose clause of the document indicates clearly that the corporation shall not engage in retail sales, the Corporations Attorney shall not file the articles unless he finds, pursuant to written assurance by the principals or their attorney, that the corporation shall comply with G.S. 75-29.

(f) The corporate name for a business corporation shall not contain the word "realtor."

(g) The corporate name for a business corporation shall not contain the word "insurance" followed directly by a corporate ending or the word "insurance" followed directly by a geographical designation and a corporate ending.

Authority G.S. 54-139; 55B-3; 55B-5; 55B-16; 55D-5; 55D-20; 55D-21; 57D-2-02; 57D-2-21; 57D-7-03; 59-103;
Eff. February 1, 1976;
ARRC Objection Lodged June 21, 1990;
Temporary Amendment Eff. July 1, 1990 For a Period of 180 Days to Expire on December 27, 1990;
ARRC Objection Removed August 20, 1990;
Amended Eff. March 1, 1996; February 1, 1991; December 10, 1980;
Pursuant to G.S. 150B-21.3A, rule is necessary without substantive public interest Eff. December 20, 2015.

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