HOUSE BILL REPORT

SHB 2070

As Amended by the Senate

BYHouse Committee on Housing (originally sponsored by Representatives Todd and Hargrove)

Applying the state building code to buildings or structures moved into a county or city.

House Committe on Housing

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (9)

      Signed by Representatives Nutley, Chair; Leonard, Vice Chair; Winsley, Ranking Republican Member; Anderson, Ballard, Inslee, Padden, Rector and Todd.

House Staff:Kenny Pittman (786-7392)

AS PASSED HOUSE MARCH 15, 1989

BACKGROUND:

The State Building Code is a comprehensive set of technical documents used to provide minimum standards for the construction, alteration, moving, demolition, repair and use of any building or structure in the state.  Under the administrative chapters of the uniform codes that comprise the State Building Code, buildings or structures that are moved are required to comply with the requirements of the latest editions of the uniform codes.

The State Building Code Council has left adoption of the administrative chapters of the uniform codes at the option of counties and cities.

SUMMARY:

Residential buildings or structures moved into or within a county or city are not required to meet all of the requirements of the latest editions of the uniform codes that comprise the State Building Code.  Exemption from the latest code requirements applies to moved structures or buildings that were legally built to the construction standards of their day and the original occupancy classification of the building or structure does not change as a result of the move.

Any alteration, repair, additions, or foundation work to moved residential buildings or structures must comply to the latest editions of the uniform codes that comprise the State Building Code.

EFFECT OF SENATE AMENDMENTS:  The amendment requires the State Building Code Council to adopt rules under the 1988 Administrative Procedures Act:  (a) to maintain the uniform codes that comprise that State Building Code; (b) to review and approve local code amendments to the State Building Code that are proposed by counties and cities; (c) to develop and adopt codes as directed by the Legislature, and (d) to develop an annual operation budget for the State Building Code Council.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jeff Monroe, Monroe House Movers; Rob Robbins, Robbins and Company.

House Committee - Testified Against:      Blair Patrick, Washington Association of Building Officials.

House Committee - Testimony For:    The real problem is that once a building is moved some local building officials are requiring that the building must be brought up to the new code standards.  We have tried to work with both the International Conference of Building Officials and the State Building Code Council to get an exemption for moved buildings. Because of the uniformity problem, many homes are being demolished because the owner cannot afford to upgrade the moved building to the new code standards.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      This bill is not needed because the language in the State Building Code (Uniform Building Code portion) gives local building officials the authority to waive the requirements for moved structures.  The State Building Code Council has developed a position statement on moved buildings that allows local building officials to use their discretion in this area.  This is not an issue in 99 percent of the local governments.

VOTE ON FINAL PASSAGE:

      Yeas 98