Committee rejects bill to let homeowners choose third‑party plan review and inspections for remodels

Representative Ward presented HB470 as a way to allow homeowners doing remodels to use qualified, licensed third‑party plan reviewers and inspectors for plan review and inspections, arguing the change would speed approvals and lower costs for owner‑occupied remodels. Laurie Sain, a former state representative, told the committee private-sector licensed engineers and ICC-certified inspectors meet national standards and that third‑party review has sped approvals in other states.

Supporters from the construction industry and inspection companies offered anecdotal examples of plan-review delays. Ken Rivera of Vanguard QA said his firm already performs plan review and inspection services and supports HB470 because it ‘‘gives the homeowners more options’’ and helps local governments when staff are overloaded. The Home Builders Association offered a family anecdote of a six-month plan-review delay.

Opponents urged caution and asked for data showing a systemic problem. Jared Tingey of the League of Cities and Towns opposed the bill and asked the sponsor to provide evidence that municipal processes consistently fail; he cited a statewide dataset the League assembled. Representative White cited two published data points — a Utah League of Cities and Towns analysis of 129,000 inspections in 2024 showing 99.8% completed within three days and an auditor general review that found no evidence of widespread bad-faith conduct — and asked witnesses to supply contrary data. Witnesses for the bill said they did not have comprehensive statewide datasets and offered largely anecdotal examples.

Committee members also raised practical questions about who would pay fees, the approved lists cities maintain for third‑party firms, whether additions and ADUs that implicate land-use rules would be covered, and how to preserve public-safety reviews such as fire inspections. The sponsor said the intent is to cover plan review and building-code inspections for owner-occupied remodels and that land-use matters would remain with the city; he offered to clarify the language.

Representative Ballard moved to pass the bill favorably. The committee took a roll-call vote; four members (Representatives Ballard, Ivory, Wilcox and Kyle) voted yes and a majority voted no, and the motion failed. Representative Ward thanked the committee and concluded his presentation.

Next steps: The bill failed in committee and will not advance unless reintroduced or reconsidered later.