(a) Before any person engages in business in this State under an assumed business name, the person must file an assumed business name certificate in the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the person is or will be engaged in business. If the person is or will be engaged in business in multiple counties, filing is required in only one of those counties.

(b) A person who engages in business in this State under more than one assumed business name must file an assumed business name certificate for each assumed business name. The person may, however, include no more than five assumed business names in one assumed business name certificate if that same person is or will be engaging in business under each of the assumed business names listed in the certificate.

(c) This Article does not apply to a political committee or a referendum committee that has filed a statement of organization with the State Board of Elections or a county board of elections as required by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.7 or N.C. Gen. Stat. § 163-278.9A, as applicable. (2016-100, s. 2; 2017-6, s. 3; 2017-23, s. 1; 2018-146, ss. 3.1(a), (b), 6.1.)