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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Michael
J. Herzing |
State Rep. Dan Surra |
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Bipartisan measure offered to strengthen local UCC appeals boards
HARRISBURG, March 14 – State Rep. Dan Surra, D-Elk/Clearfield, said today that he is joining state Rep. Scott Boyd, R-Lancaster, to introduce legislation that would give local Uniform Construction Code boards of appeal more power to grant residents waivers from unnecessary UCC requirements.
“Local boards can grant appeals of the UCC in very limited circumstances, but the boards don’t have the flexibility they need to grant residents relief from UCC requirements in all cases where it makes sense,” Surra said. “Two particular areas of concern are where UCC requirements are expensive and completely unnecessary in terms of safety and in cases where UCC requirements conflict with people’s religions beliefs.
“This legislation is designed to address those areas,” he said.
Pennsylvania enacted the Uniform Construction Code in 1999 to establish statewide permitting, inspection and safety codes for construction. The General Assembly revised the law in 2004 to exempt permitting and inspection requirements for non-structural repairs and improvements to existing residences, and to remove requirements for cabins and other recreational and out-buildings.
However, Surra said, some homeowners and homebuilders still face costly UCC requirements that are not necessary. In many of these cases, such as where waiving a requirement would not compromise safety, or where the UCC requirements conflict with the religious practices of a group like the Amish, local appeals boards have no power to grant relief.
The legislation (H.B. 816) introduced by Surra and Boyd would revise the UCC law to give local appeals boards the authority they need to waive UCC requirements when they aren’t necessary for public safety or when they conflict with an individual or group’s religious beliefs.
“This kind of common-sense provision should be added to the UCC law,” Surra said. “The changes we made to the UCC law in 2004 were a good start at reducing cost and hassle for homeowners and other do-it-yourselfers, but many people still face unnecessary costs and bureaucratic red tape when trying to improve their property.
“This legislation would allow local UCC appeals boards to provide relief from these burdens where and when it can be done without compromising safety.”
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