Cabarrus County Schools
Residency (Domicile) Policy & Procedures

The Cabarrus County Schools (CCS) Department of Student Assignment & Enrollment is responsible for verifying domicile for all new and continuing students, enforcing Board Policy 4120, and determining consequences for violations of residency requirements.

Residency (Domicile) Policy & Procedures FAQ

Domicile and Residence Defined

Under North Carolina law, “domicile” and “residence” are not the same.

• Residence: where a person is physically staying (temporary or permanent).
• Domicile: a person’s true, fixed, permanent home—the address they intend to remain and return to indefinitely.

To establish domicile, two conditions must exist:

1. Actual physical residence in the home, and
2. Intent to make that residence a permanent home and to abandon the previous domicile.

A student domiciled in Cabarrus County who meets admission criteria is entitled to enroll in CCS without paying tuition.

Meeting Domicile Requirements

For students under 18, a child’s domicile is legally presumed to be the domicile of the parent, legal guardian, or court-ordered custodian.

Students may establish their own domicile if they are:

• Age 18 or older,
• Married,
• Abandoned by parents, or
• Court-emancipated.

This policy does not apply to students protected under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.

Abandoning a Previously Owned Home

Because parents often own a home in one county while residing in another, CCS requires proof that a previously owned home has been abandoned as a domicile.

Owning a residence in another county—even if not currently occupied—creates a legal presumption that the owned home remains the parent’s domicile unless abandonment is proven.

To demonstrate abandonment of a prior home, families must provide evidence such as:

• Proof the home has been sold, listed for sale, or under a binding contract
• Documentation showing utilities have been disconnected
• Rental agreement showing the home is leased to another party
• Change of address confirmations with federal/state agencies
• Other documentation clearly demonstrating the parent no longer uses the property as their permanent home

CCS must confirm abandonment before accepting a new domicile.

Verification of Domicile

Before enrollment is approved, parents/guardians must provide acceptable proof that they are domiciled within Cabarrus County.

Accepted documentation includes:

• Current lease agreement
• Property deed
• Closing/settlement statement
• Current Cabarrus County property tax record
• Current utility bill (gas, water, or electric) showing service and mailing address

Phone, cable, or internet bills cannot be used as proof.

When the Parent Owns Another Home

If a parent owns any home outside Cabarrus County, CCS will require proof of abandonment of that property in addition to proof of the new domicile.

If parents are domiciled in Cabarrus County but lack documents in their name, they must contact CCS Student Assignment & Enrollment for assistance.

Enforcement of Domicile Policy and Domicile Investigations

CCS may verify residency at any time during the school year and may require additional documentation when:

• Information suggests a family lives outside Cabarrus County
• Submitted documentation appears false, inconsistent, or contradictory
• Mail is returned as undeliverable
• Other agencies report conflicting address information

CCS may request additional proof, conduct home visits, or consult law enforcement to confirm domicile. Families will be notified in writing if an investigation is initiated.

Consequences for Violating the Domicile Policy

Students found to be non-domiciled in Cabarrus County, and not otherwise eligible under law, will be withdrawn from CCS.

Providing false or misleading residency information may result in:

• Immediate withdrawal
• Back-tuition charges