North Carolina already has some of the weakest building codes in the nation when it comes to protecting people from hazards and disasters, according to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Division of Building Sciences. But the state’s legislature is determined to further water down the state’s building codes. Legislation is moving quickly towards passage that will weaken the state’s already anemic building codes.
If enacted, this would be North Carolina’s second big step backwards in as many years for climate resilience, as well as energy and water efficiency.
In 2023, North Carolina’s General Assembly passed HB 488 and overrode a subsequent veto by Governor Cooper. This legislation froze all the state’s building codes until 2031, hampering the state’s ability to move towards a safer and cleaner climate future.
The state is now relying on…