Building codes help, not hinder, housing affordability

A house is more than a purchase. It’s a cornerstone of the American dream. It comes with an expectation, a promise, that the roof will hold together in high wind, the wiring will not ignite and the walls will be standing after a storm. For more than a century, America’s building codes have helped keep that promise. They were drafted in the wake of the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, refined after the San Francisco earthquake of 1906 and have been updated ever since by builders, engineers, fire officials and other experts working in public view. A debate underway in Washington and state legislatures threatens to undo this good work. As policymakers search for ways to make housing more affordable – a critical priority – some have set their sights on rolling back building codes. They have revived an old argument, worn smooth by decades of repetition, that stronger codes mean higher construction costs and, inevitably, higher home prices. That premise is untrue. What the data actually says about building codes and home prices A team at the University of Alabama led by Dr. Lawrence “Lars” Powell tested the presumed linkage and found it wanting. In the study released June 7, researchers exami...