HB214 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to building codes; to amend Section 27-2-39, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for a portion of fees and taxes collected by the Department of Insurance to the Alabama Residential Building Code Fund; to designate Sections 34-14A-1 through 34-14A-20 as Article 1 of Chapter 14A of Title 34, Code of Alabama 1975; to amend Sections 34-14A-1, 34-14A-2, 34-14A-7, 34-14A-12, 34-14A-20, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the establishment of the Alabama Residential Building Code and its authority; to further provide for the practice of residential home building; to further provide for the duties of the Home Builders Licensure Board; to add Article 2, commencing with Section 34-14A-41, to Chapter 14A of Title 34, Code of Alabama 1975, to establish the Alabama Residential Building Code Division within the Home Builders Licensure Board and provide for its duties; to establish the Alabama Residential Building Code Fund in the State Treasury and provide for its administration; to add Article 6A, commencing of Section 41-9-175, to Chapter 9 of Title 41, Code of Alabama 1975, to establish the Alabama Residential Building Code Advisory Council and provide for its membership and duties; to amend Sections 41-23-80, 41-23-81, 41-23-82, 41-23-84, 41-23-85, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide for the change of the name of the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board to the Alabama Commercial Energy Code Board and further provide for the membership of the board; and to provide requirements for certain local building codes adopted or amended after a date certain.

Summary

HB214 would create a statewide Alabama Residential Building Code framework with a dedicated division, funding, advisory council, and guidelines to standardize residential construction and enforcement.

What This Bill Does

It establishes the Alabama Residential Building Code Division within the Home Builders Licensure Board and sets up the Alabama Residential Building Code Fund to support code implementation and enforcement. It creates the Alabama Residential Building Code Advisory Council to recommend a code based on the International Residential Code and the residential parts of the International Energy Conservation Code, with the board authorized to adopt the code. It requires counties and municipalities that enforce residential codes to adopt or amend codes to meet the minimum standards of the Alabama Residential Building Code and obliges residential home builders to construct, renovate, and repair according to those standards. It renames the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board to the Alabama Commercial Energy Code Board, expands its membership, and assigns it duties related to energy and building codes, while also providing for funding, grants, and program administration to support enforcement and education.

Who It Affects

• Residential home builders and licensees are required to build to and be licensed under the Alabama Residential Building Code, with new divisions, inspections, disclosures, and potential rebates or enforcement actions.
• Counties and municipalities that enforce building codes will need to adopt minimum standards in line with the Alabama Residential Building Code, cooperate with the new division, and may receive state funds or grants to support code adoption and enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Alabama Residential Building Code Division within the Home Builders Licensure Board and designates an Alabama Residential Building Code Fund to support implementation and enforcement.
• Establishes the Alabama Residential Building Code Advisory Council to recommend the code based on IRC and IECC residential chapters and to advise the division and board.
• Requires local governments to adopt or amend residential codes to meet the minimum standards of the Alabama Residential Building Code; residential builders must comply with these standards.
• Amends the Alabama Energy and Residential Codes Board to become the Alabama Commercial Energy Code Board with new membership and duties related to energy and building codes.
• Mandates adoption of a minimum statewide residential building code (Alabama Residential Building Code) with rules for private code inspections, waivers, and resumption of work when inspections are waived or not conducted.
• Adds the Alabama Construction Trade Academy Fund and Advisory Council to fund construction trade education with required private matching funds and grant guidelines.
• Requires homeowners to provide code inspection reports to insurers and mortgage providers, and establishes a rebate voucher program for private code inspections where applicable.
• Effective date and funding provisions: the act becomes effective October 1, 2023, with ongoing funding and administration through the new codes division and fund.

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

Subjects

Building codes, Alabama Home Builders Licensure Board, Alabama Residential Building Code, authorized to be established