Our Successes

IBA Top Accomplishments

Legislative & Regulatory Accomplishments

  1. Passed Prohibition of Residential Fire Sprinkler Mandate – Law prohibits the state or local unit of government from requiring the installation of fire sprinklers in one-and two-family dwellings and townhouses.
  2. Clarified IDEM Will Not Regulate Ephemeral Streams in Indiana, consistent with the federal WOTUS rule.
  3. Supported Adoption of New Statewide Residential Code that balances safety with affordability and, for the first time, has state-specific amendments integrated into the text that can be viewed digitally for free.
  4. Passed Prohibition on Local Builder License & Registration Requirements – A local unit of government may not pass an ordinance after February 28, 2013 requiring a builder or remodeler to obtain a license or register as a condition to working within a jurisdiction.
  5. Passed Inclusionary Zoning Prohibition – Prohibits a local unit of government from requiring a private developer to set aside a percentage of new units or homes for affordable housing.
  6. Passed Right to Work Law and Repealed Common Construction Wage Law – The right to work law forbids contract provisions requiring employees to pay dues or fees to unions as a condition of employment. Repealing the common construction wage law allows for competition in the public bidding process which saves local governments money and lowers the tax burden for taxpayers.
  7. Passed Property Tax Breaks – Model Home Act gives builders a 50% property tax break on up to 3 structures for 3 full assessment periods while the Spec. Home Act provides the same tax break on any home that has never been occupied.
  8. Passed State Plan Review Changes – Establishes statutory deadlines for state plan review of class 1 projects giving plan reviewers 10 business days to decide if they will perform a plan review, 20 days to perform an initial plan review and 10 days to respond to any corrections submitted following the initial review.
  9. Defeated Employee Classification – Legislation would have forced independent contractors to become employees of the general contractor.
  10. Passed Vested Property Rights Statute – Law prohibits a local unit of government from changing the use of land for period of time and provides that the granting of secondary, additional or related permits under local planning and zoning laws are to be governed for at least three years by standards and regulations in effect at time of application for the permit.
  11. Passed Law Defining Townhouses as Class 2 Structures –Allows townhouses to be constructed without the use of a design professional and also removes a requirement that townhouses be subject to the state plan review process.
  12. Passed Developers Discount Statute – Allows builders and developers to sell lots without triggering a new assessment until a permit is pulled or construction begins on a lot.

IBA Top Accomplishments For Remodelers

Legislative & Regulatory Accomplishments

  1. Passed State & Local Plan Review Changes – State & local plan reviewers must complete an initial plan review within 30 days.
  2. Passed Legislation Halting Expansion of Builder/Remodeler Licensing – A local unit of government may not pass an ordinance after February 28, 2013 requiring a builder or remodeler to obtain a license or register as a condition to working within a jurisdiction.
  3. Supported Adoption of New Statewide Residential Code with Exceptions for Remodeling – The code balances safety with affordability while providing exceptions for remodeling projects to comply with new requirements, and, for the first time, has state-specific amendments integrated into the text that can be viewed digitally for free.
  4. Defeated Employee Classification – Legislation would have forced independent contractors to become employees of the general contractor.
  5. Passed Home Improvement Fraud Law – Law increases penalties on home repair scam artists across the state.
  6. Passed Home Improvement Contract Law Change – Makes a home improvement contract between a supplier and a consumer subject to certain conditions and requirements if the contract is entered into as a result of damage, loss, or expense if insurance is involved or a 3rd party is liable.
  7. Defeated the Transfer of the EPA’s Renovation, Repair and Painting Programs From the Federal Government to a State Agency – Contractors already paid fees to the EPA and under the bill the fees already paid would not be allowed to follow the program to the state, so contractors would be subject to additional fees and potential fines.
  8. Defeated Onerous Provisions in Lead-Based Paint Legislation – Would have mandated inspections on rental properties built before 1978 performed by a licensed inspector and considered presence of lead paint to be a property defect subject to the Responsibility Property Transfer Law.
  9. Defeated Shortening Timeframe in Mechanic’s Lien Statute – Would have shortened the amount of time to send notice of right to file mechanic’s lien from 60 days to 30 days.
  10. Passed Measure Requiring the State Building Commissioner to Issue Interpretations within 10 Business Days
  11. Passed Measure Allowing Remodel of Townhouses Without the Use of a Design Professional or Obtaining a Construction Design Release from the State
  12. Passed Abandoned Housing Reforms to Increase the Number of Blighted Properties to be Remodeled – Local government can decrease the time it takes to get abandoned property back into productive use, and also will help free up federal funds to help improve blighted properties.
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