Codes and Regulations
Treasury Examines Burdensome Tax Regulations with Eye to Repeal
The Treasury Department has identified eight tax regulations issued since Jan. 1, 2016 that it intends to modify or fully repeal. Three of the eight need particular scrutiny, NAHB recommends.
EPA Formally Withdraws National Post-Construction Rule
The Environmental Protection Agency today announced that long-awaited federal regulations to require all developers to install stormwater management devices have been jettisoned.
Updated Tool Can Mean More Accurate Appraisals on Green Homes
Green builders continue to struggle getting their homes appraised at a high enough value, but an updated tool offers some reprieve. The Appraisal Institute’s Residential Green and Energy Efficiency Addendum lets builders easily note the green features included in their homes, including certifications such as the National Green Building Standard
DHS to Add 15,000 Additional H-2B Guest Worker Visas
The Department of Homeland Security has announced that it will allow an additional 15,000 H-2B temporary worker visas to be issued during this fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. The H-2B program allows employers to hire temporary foreign workers for seasonal, non-agricultural positions. In past years, roughly half of the visas have gone to landscaping businesses.
Feds Award New Residential Energy Efficiency Projects
With the goal of reducing energy use in both new and existing homes, the Department of Energy is awarding more than $3 million in grants through its Building America program partners, including the Home Innovation Research Labs, NAHB’s research arm.
CFPB Publishes Final ‘Know Before You Owe’ Rule
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on July 7 published final updates to its “Know Before You Owe” mortgage rule, offering amendments on finance charge disclosures, disclosures tied to housing assistance that a borrower receives, and when information can be shared with third-parties, including real estate agents.
Of particular interest to NAHB, the final rule clarifies disclosures for construction and construction-to-permanent loans addressing many of the concerns lenders have expressed in making these loans.
Got Burdensome Regulations? The Feds are Listening
The U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy is hosting a series of Regional Regulatory Reform Roundtables across the country.
Webinar Offers Tips for Fire Protection During Construction
The American Wood Council is offering a free webinar at 1:55 p.m. ET on July 13 to help home builders and developers keep their jobsites safe from fire damage.
Free Webinar: Why Pick the Performance Path?
Builders have a choice between two different paths to satisfy the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). This webinar will explore how the performance path provides builders more choices when deciding how to comply with the new energy code requirements.
OSHA Provides Clarification on Confined Spaces Rule
OSHA recently consulted with NAHB to develop a fact sheet to aid residential builders in meeting the standard issued in 2015 to protect workers from hazards related to confined spaces in construction work.
