The primary remedy for breach of a Restrictive Covenant is a permanent injunction to restrain the breach. However, the courts have jurisdiction to award damages instead of an injunction.
In North Carolina, there's a noteworthy aspect of restrictive covenants to consider; most covenants automatically expire after 30 years unless they are specifically for residential purposes only. This statutory limitation is a safeguard against outdated or unreasonable restrictions binding properties in perpetuity.
Restrictive covenants are binding, legal agreements that are attached to property titles. They restrict what the owner of a property can do with the land and, in some cases, also put obligations on the property owner. When you buy a property with a covenant attached, you take on all those restrictions and obligations.
"Blue penciling" means striking out an unenforceable or illegal provision, but does not include modification of the provision (such as in Canada, Hong Kong, India, and the UK).
Is garden leave illegal in Canada? The short answer is no. Garden leave hasn't been declared illegal in Canada. If an employment contract contains a properly drafted garden leave clause, the agreement might be legally enforceable.
In Canada, the enforceability of non-compete agreements is quite strict. Courts are cautious and will only enforce such agreements if they protect a legitimate business interest.
Non-compete agreements are not viewed favorably under North Carolina law. To be valid, they must be designed to protect a legitimate business interest of the employer. If it is too broad to be considered a reasonable protection of the employer's business, it will not be enforced.
Courts have held that restrictive covenants are presumptively unenforceable on the basis that they are considered a restraint of trade contrary to public policy.
If the obligation restricts the use and enjoyment of the land it is called restrictive covenant. Examples of restrictive covenants are not to use the property other than for residential purposes or not to build any structures on the property.
How long do restrictive covenants last? They have no official expiration date. As long as the legal requirements for a restrictive covenant are otherwise met, a restrictive covenant could be hundreds of years old and could still be enforceable.