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Permit timelines proposed to speed housing construction; amendment adopted
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Summary
House committee substitute for HB 17-91 would require local issuance of building permits within 30 days (60 for larger tracts) with appeals and certification requirements; the floor adopted an amendment requiring code-enforcement staff certified in adopted national codes.
Representative from Saint Louis County introduced the committee substitute for HB 17-91, describing the bill as an effort to reduce permit-related delays that can add an estimated 6% to housing costs. Under the measure sponsors described on the floor, localities would have set timelines for issuing building permits—30 days for typical permits and 60 days for larger tracts—subject to specified cure and appeal procedures.
Representative from Pulaski offered an amendment (house amendment 1) to require that, where a jurisdiction adopts nationally or internationally recognized codes (for example IRC or IBC), code-enforcement staff be certified in those codes; the floor adopted the amendment. Members who supported the bill said the measure streamlines permitting without weakening building, energy or safety codes; opponents cautioned that automatic deeming and short deadlines could strain understaffed local governments and risk local fiscal stress. A Saint Louis County member said his county carried $81 million in debt and warned that staffing shortages could hamper timely reviews.
After further floor discussion and questions on scope and appeals, the House adopted the committee substitute as amended and ordered it perfected and printed.