Bill Summary for H 252 (2017-2018)

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Summary date: 

Mar 28 2017

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2017-2018 Session
House Bill 252 (Public) Filed Thursday, March 2, 2017
AN ACT TO MAKE VARIOUS CHANGES AND CLARIFICATIONS TO THE STATUTES GOVERNING THE CREATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF BUILDING CODES.
Intro. by Brody, Riddell, Potts, R. Moore.

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Bill summary

House committee substitute makes the following changes to the 1st edition.

Makes clarifying and technical changes to the proposed changes to GS 153A-352(b) and GS 160A-412(b), providing that counties and cities may not adopt or enforce a local ordinance or resolution or any other policy (previously, prohibited the adoption of a new local ordinance or resolution or policy and the enforcement of an existing local ordinance, resolution, or policy) requiring inspections of buildings constructed in compliance with the North Carolina Building Code for One- and Two-family Dwellings in addition to those required by the North Carolina Building code, without first obtaining approval by the North Carolina Building Code Council.

Makes technical corrections to the proposed clarifying changes in GS 153A-352(c) and GS 160A-412(c).

Amends proposed GS 153A-352(f) and proposed GS 160A-412(f) to require inspection departments to implement a process (previously, to create a process) for informal internal review of inspection decisions made by department's inspectors, including, at minimum, initial review by the supervisor of the inspector, provisions on permits stating the inspector's contact information and notice of availability of informal internal review, and procedures for internal review of an inspector's decision. Removes the proposed December 1, 2017, deadline for inspection departments to implement a process for an informal internal review of inspection decisions by the department's inspectors. Adds an effective date of December 1, 2017, to these provisions.

Makes technical and organizational changes concerning the directive requiring inspection departments to annually submit reports by January 15 of each year, with the initial report to be submitted by January 15, 2018. Adds that these reporting provisions are effective January 1, 2018, and as previously provided, expire June 30, 2022. 

Amends the proposed changes to subsections (c) and (d) of GS 143-136, authorizing a committee within the Building Code Council to review any proposal for revision or amendment to any other code applicable to residential construction, or commercial or multi-family construction (previously, any other current or future code applicable to residential construction, or commercial or multi-family construction; currently authorized to review an enumerated list of codes). 

Amends proposed subsection (b) of GS 143-140, providing that if an interpretation under the statute or under GS 143-141(b) changes after a building permit is issued, the permit applicant can choose which version of the interpretation will apply to the permit unless the choice would cause harm to life or property (previously, prohibited the enforcement agency from applying interpretations issued under the statute or under GS 143-141(b) to construction begun under a validly issued permit at the time the agency provides the interpretation).

Amends the proposed added provisions to GS 143-355.4(a), to more specifically exempt from the requirement of separate meters for new in-ground irrigation system lots with privately-owned septic tanks systems or other types of privately-owned innovative on-site wastewater systems if a lockable cutoff valve approved by the water system and a testable backflow prevention device approved by the water system for the appropriate level of risk associated with the irrigation system or other identified risk are installed on the water supply line for the irrigation system (previously, exempts lots with septic tank systems or other types of innovative on-site wastewater systems if a lockable cutoff valve and a backflow prevention device are installed on the water supply line for the irrigation system within 12 inches of the connection to the water meter). Requires the lockable cutoff value to be installed on the water supply line for the irrigation system within 24 inches of the water meter and the testable backflow device to be installed on the water supply line for the irrigation system.

Makes organizational changes to the act's provisions.