House Approves Silvis Bill to Ease Navigation of Construction Code
HARRISBURG – The House today passed Rep. Jason Silvis’ (R-Westmoreland/Armstrong/Indiana) legislation to increase transparency for building code applicants and accountability for code administrators.
“Many property and business owners who are not professional builders have been facing unnecessary roadblocks during construction projects,” Silvis said. “They are verbally told of changes needed before a permit will be issued or problems discovered during an inspection without the code official citing relevant code. As a result, it is difficult to dispute the requirements. My bill will provide clarity so that necessary fixes can be made, and overzealous code officials can be held accountable.”
House Bill 1790 would require inspectors to cite specific code references when a permit application is denied in part or in whole; complete inspections during normal business hours unless otherwise agreed to by the permit holder; provide a written description of items not in compliance with the Uniform Construction Code within one business day of inspection; and provide notification on the permit application about the process and grounds to file a complaint against a certified code administrator.
The bill now goes to the Senate for its consideration.
The 55th House District includes Parks Township, and Apollo and Leechburg boroughs in Armstrong County; Saltsburg Borough in Indiana County; and Bell, Derry, Loyalhanna, part of Unity and Washington townships, Avonmore, Derry, East Vandergrift, Hyde Park, New Alexandria, Oklahoma, Vandergrift, West Leechburg and Youngtown boroughs, and the city of Latrobe.
Representative Jason Silvis
55th Legislative District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives