Related to the regulation of construction, including state building codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements

The inclusion of this explanation does not constitute agreement with the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to the regulation of construction, including state building codes, contractor licensing, and stormwater management requirements. Under current law, the state building code commissioner (commissioner) must make available for inspection at the office of the commissioner any proposed rule and distribute the proposed rule to the governmental subdivisions that have adopted the state building code and to any other person who requests a copy. The bill adds the requirement that a proposed rule affecting the state building code must consider housing affordability and a public report must be submitted by the commissioner to the administrative rules review committee outlining the estimated increase or decrease in construction costs to single-family or multi-family homes resulting from the promulgation of the proposed rule. Under current law, a county or city is prohibited from imposing a fee or charge on any individual or business licensed by the plumbing and mechanical systems board for the right to perform plumbing, mechanical, HVAC, refrigeration, sheet metal, or hydronic systems work within the scope of the license. A county or city may charge fees for the issuance of permits for, and inspections of, work performed in its jurisdiction. The bill prohibits a county or a city from imposing a licensing fee or charge on a general contractor or a subcontractor. “General contractor” includes every person who does work or furnishes materials by contract, express or implied, with an owner. “General contractor” does not include a person who does work or furnishes materials on contract with an owner-builder. “Subcontractor” includes every person furnishing material or performing labor upon any building, erection, or other improvement, except those having contracts directly with the owner. “Subcontractor” shall include those persons having contracts directly with an owner-builder. The bill prohibits a county or city from imposing additional improvements or methods for stormwater management required at a construction site that are more restrictive than those required as part of the county or city’s initial review and approval of a proposed subdivision plat, lot, or parcel unless otherwise required by another state or federal law. A county or city may develop standards to evaluate stormwater management methods before and after construction and ensure compliance with other state or federal laws.