N.C. Gen. Stat. § 157-34
The commissioners of a housing authority created for a county may be appointed and removed by the board of county commissioners of the county in the same manner as the commissioners of a housing authority created for a city may be appointed and removed by the mayor; provided, that the board of county commissioners may determine in the case of any authority for its county that the board of county commissioners itself shall constitute and act ex officio as the authority. The board of county commissioners may at any time by resolution or ordinance increase or decrease the membership of an authority, within the limitations prescribed in G.S. 157-33. Except as otherwise provided herein, each housing authority created for a county and the commissioners thereof shall have the same functions, rights, powers, duties and limitations provided for housing authorities created for cities and the commissioners of such housing authorities: Provided, that for such purposes the term "mayor" or "council" as used in the housing authorities law and any amendments thereto shall be construed as meaning "board of county commissioners," the term "city clerk" as used therein shall be construed as meaning "clerk of the board of county commissioners" and the term "city" as used therein shall be construed as meaning "county" unless a different meaning clearly appears from the context: Provided, further, that a housing authority created for a county shall not be subject to the limitations provided in subdivision (4) of G.S. 157-29 of the housing authorities law with respect to housing projects for farmers of low income.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 157-34