SB246 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Donnie ChesteenDan Roberts

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Home building, Alabama Residential Building Code Advisory Council, established, provides for powers and authority, provides for adoption of Alabama Residential Building Code, establishes Alabama Residential Building Code Division within the Home Builders Licensure Board, Secs. 27-2-39, 34-14A-1, 34-14A-2, 34-14A-7, 34-14A-12, 34-14A-20, 41-23-80, 41-23-81, 41-23-82, 41-23-84, 41-23-85 am'd.

Summary

SB246 would create a statewide framework to adopt and enforce a unified Alabama Residential Building Code (based on IRC and IECC), establish a division and advisory council to guide code adoption, fund enforcement and education, and create an energy code board.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Alabama Residential Building Code Advisory Council to recommend a statewide code based on the International Residential Code and International Energy Conservation Code. It establishes the Alabama Residential Building Code Division within the Home Builders Licensure Board to administer and enforce the code, with a dedicated fund to support administration, enforcement, and local grants. It requires counties and municipalities to enforce minimum standards and requires residential builders to construct, renovate, and repair in accordance with the Alabama Residential Building Code, with full compliance starting January 1, 2027, and sets related mortgage documentation requirements. It also creates the Alabama Commercial Energy Code Board to adopt and enforce the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Commercial Energy Code and outlines related governance and limitations on local code changes, plus provisions about fire sprinkler restrictions and funding mechanics for the code program.

Who It Affects

• Residential home builders in Alabama would have to follow the Alabama Residential Building Code for construction, renovation, and repair, ensure licensing display on contracts and ads, and adhere to new permitting and inspection processes.
• Counties and municipalities that enforce building codes would be required to adopt and enforce the minimum standards of the Alabama Residential Building Code and could receive state support, grants, and guidance to help implement code adoption and enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Creation of the Alabama Residential Building Code Advisory Council to recommend a statewide code based on the IRC and IECC.
• Establishment of the Alabama Residential Building Code Division within the Home Builders Licensure Board to administer, enforce, and oversee the code.
• Requirement that counties and municipalities enforce the minimum standards of the Alabama Residential Building Code and that residential builders construct, renovate, and repair to those standards (effective January 1, 2027).
• Creation of the Alabama Residential Building Code Fund to fund administration, enforcement, and grants to local jurisdictions, with carryover provisions and potential transfer of excess funds to the Strengthen Alabama Homes Fund.
• Creation of the Alabama Commercial Energy Code Board to adopt and implement the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Commercial Energy Code, including governance and rules for local code amendments.
• Prohibition on local ordinances or rules that restrict a consumer's ability to install a residential fire sprinkler system or require sprinklers, with certain grandfather provisions for pre-2010 codes.
• Mortgage-related requirement that mortgagors submit permits, inspection reports, and occupancy certificates at project completion, without imposing duties on lenders.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Residential Construction