The legislation was introduced last April by Councilmember Catania as a companion bill to the “HomeStart Financial Incentives Act of 2001”. The regulatory improvement amendments will streamline the construction permitting process, standardize the rehabilitation code, and require D.C. construction codes to be available over the Internet. The companion Financial Incentives Act (Bill 14-183) combined with other initiatives to become the “Housing Act of 2002”, and was passed by the Council on January 8, 2002.

Specifics on the “HomeStart Regulatory Improvement Amendment Act” include:

Automation of D.C. Construction Codes
The bill directs the District’s Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs to establish and maintain an electronic database containing all D.C. construction codes. The database will be accessible through the Internet.

Expedited Permit Processing and Inspections
The bill establishes an Expedited Construction Document Review Program for construction documents to be processed separately to expedite the District’s review of the documents. In order to qualify, the documents must be reviewed and recommended for submission to the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs by District-certified Peer Reviewers. The bill also allows for the establishment of third party inspectors to certify work performed pursuant to a building permit.

Standardization of Rehabilitation Codes
In order to encourage and facilitate the rehabilitation of existing buildings, the bill requires the adoption of a new Rehabilitation Building Code. This new Code shall be modeled after the Nationally Applicable Recommended Rehabilitation Provisions developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, be reviewed and updated at least every three years, and be available on the Internet. The establishment of a Rehabilitation Code will lower the costs associated with rehabilitating existing commercial properties.
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D.C. Building Rehabilitation Code Advisory Council
The bill would create a District of Columbia Rehabilitation Building Code Advisory Council composed of representatives of the District government, various trade organizations, and the public. The Advisory council shall advise the Mayor on the development and revisions of the District Building Rehabilitation Code.