\nIn an action prosecuted in the name of the State for the recovery of money or property, or to establish a right or claim for the benefit of any county, city, town, village, corporation or person, costs awarded against the plaintiff shall be a charge against the party for whose benefit the action was prosecuted, and not against the State.
North Carolina Legal Code
§ 6.15
Source: https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/ByChapter/Chapter_6.html· Version 2026