Much of North Carolina still hasn't fully recovered from the housing crash, and, like other states, is suffering from a lack of qualified labor. A state lawmaker has a proposal to remove one roadblock to new construction: regulations. The Raleigh News & Observer reports.
New legislation sponsored by Rep. Mark Brody, a Republican from Monroe who is a construction contractor, aims to alleviate at least one of the holdups homebuilders now face.
Inspectors pool Builders contend that some local governments have been slow to make inspections, which impedes a project's progress.
"We've had jurisdictions, quite frankly, that haven't staffed up as a result of the recession, and in some cases are not equipped to provide timely inspections," Carpenter said. "It's a disservice to homeowners."
Brody's legislation is aimed at putting more houses on the market quicker by allowing homebuilders to hire their own inspectors from a statewide pool if cities or counties aren't inspecting fast enough. The pool already exists but is currently only available to cities and counties.
House Bill 948 would require someone in the inspection pool to be assigned if the city or county can't do the inspection within two business days. It would also take away cities' and counties' authority to approve those inspections.
Read More
