2024 Bills

HB 188: Building Permit Stability Act (No Building Permit Takesies Backsies)

To track the status of this bill, find it on our Legislation Tracker. Click here to contact the sponsor of the bill to share your thoughts, or click here to email your Senator and Representative about it.

Libertas Institute supports this bill

Staff review of this legislation finds that it aligns with our principles and should therefore be passed into law.

One of the many steps involved in new construction is obtaining a building permit from a local government. The requirements of the building permit will vary, depending on the construction type and location. Setting aside the question of the necessity of certain provisions required by permitting, everyone benefits if the permit requirements are clear.

Representative R. Neil Walter’s bill, HB 188 improves the permitting process. By codifying that cities and counties cannot change the permit requirements after a permit has been issued, the bill ensures fairness for those in the construction process. The bill provides for two logical exceptions — the permit requirements can be changed if the permit holder requests and if the requirement is to ensure the building meets building codes.

Because HB 188 ensures fairness in the permitting process, it deserves support.