Codes and Regulations
MIT Report Spotlights Need to Reform Policies on Factory-Built Housing
According to a new study from the MIT Humanitarian Supply Chain Lab, factory-built houses — i.e., modular, panelized or pre-assembled homes — could help increase affordable housing stock and significantly aid in disaster response and recovery. However, factory-built homes comprise only 3% of single-family homes in the United States. What can be done to better utilize these types of homes?
NAHB Podcast: Builders Should Drive Codes Development
NAHB CEO Jerry Howard and Chief Lobbyist Jim Tobin discuss the building codes development process with guest Anne Anderson of Green Mountain Engineering, an NAHB member and a voting member of the International Codes Council.
Local HBA Rallies Against Red Tape
If it wasn’t for a surge of successful advocacy efforts led by the Northwest Arkansas HBA, it would have been much more challenging to attract home buyers in Fayetteville, Arkansas.
FEMA Defers Implementation of New Flood Insurance Risk Rating System
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced today it was deferring implementation of its new flood insurance risk rating program by one year until Oct. 1, 2021.
Last Chance to Help Influence Important Building Codes
The International Codes Council will soon begin voting on important changes to the International Residential Code, the International Energy Conservation Code, and others. NAHB members can have a say in those votes.
VA Accepts NAHB Revisions on Radon Mitigation Requirements
In a victory for NAHB, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has accepted our suggested revisions and clarifications regarding a builder’s certification requirements for radon gas mitigation on properties located in Zone 1 counties, which have the highest potential radon levels.
Important Electrical Code Changes Could Soon be Adopted Near You
The National Fire Protection Association recently published the 2020 edition of the National Electrical Code (NEC). This particular edition of the code has some significant changes that target residential electrical service.
Federal Code Mandates Costly and the Wrong Approach to Boost Energy Efficiency
NAHB today urged Congress to oppose any federal mandates that require the adoption of more stringent building codes because it would harm housing affordability, prevent healthy competition in the marketplace and may not achieve the intended results.
Trump Signs Executive Orders to Combat Government Overreach
President Trump this week signed two executive orders that the White House said “will improve the transparency and fairness of government agencies and ensure that they are held accountable.”
Treasury and FHFA Allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Boost Capital Reserves
The Treasury Department and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) have announced an agreement that temporarily stops the net worth sweep by Treasury of Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) profits and allows them to increase their capital reserves to $25 billion and $20 billion respectively.
