Homebuilders say most 2024 residential code proposals won’t raise costs; a few may lower compliance time

Patrick Hanks, with the Building Industry Association of Washington, told the State Building Code Council that most proposed changes to the 2024 International Residential Code appeared unlikely to drive industry-wide cost increases.

Hanks said the technical advisory group reviewing the residential code identified “only one proposal that would potentially increase costs for the industry,” and he named proposals 028 and 031 as examples that could lower costs and noted that BIW sponsored proposal 33, which “may lower compliance time a little bit.”

Hanks spoke near the start of the SBCC’s listening session segment dedicated to the International Residential Code and said his organization had been encouraging members to submit written comments and complete the SBCC economic impact questionnaire.

The session’s moderator and SBCC staff again invited written testimony and reminded participants to send comments to sbcc@des.wa.gov. There was no vote or formal action on residential code proposals during the session; speakers provided testimony and staff recorded comments for the rule‑making record.

Hanks did not provide dollar estimates tied to the single proposal he said might raise costs; he urged members to use the SBCC forms to provide detailed input for the council’s cost‑benefit determination.