Florida forfeits claim as strictest state for hurricane building codes

Virginia is tougher, but the Sunshine State is in the process of complying with the 2012 IRC.

By Sharon O'Malley • April 6, 2015

Bay Area seeks ban on wood-burning fireplaces

A proposal would stop property owners from selling homes with the devices.

By Sharon O'Malley • April 2, 2015

Chinese manufacturer of defective drywall pays homeowners $3.2M

An April hearing will determine further penalties against the maker of the damaging product.

By Sharon O'Malley • April 2, 2015

DC Zoning Commission shoots down pop-up houses

The controversial structures may rise no higher than 35 feet, per the demands of unhappy neighbors.

By Sharon O'Malley • April 1, 2015

Builders battle OSHA over proposed silica rule

An industry coalition says the cost of complying with the planned new standard would exceed government estimates by $4.5 billion.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 30, 2015

Arizona revises construction-defects law to temper frivolous suits

Nevada already changed its rule, as Colorado, Florida, and Washington are reconsidering theirs.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 25, 2015

AR county to tear down defective bridge under construction

A worker sued to bring attention to structural defects caused by cutting corners.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 23, 2015

Should local governments have the right to regulate home design?

The sponsors of a North Carolina bill claim some cities are going overboard with restrictions.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 23, 2015

Sprinkler spat: Homebuilders, firefighters at odds over laws

Tennessee legislators and builders are trying to repeal local mandates to include the devices in new homes.  

By Sharon O'Malley • March 23, 2015

Housing finance reform reintroduced in Congress

Proposed legislation would protect the fixed-rate, 30-year mortgage and "wind down" Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 22, 2015

San Jose adopts building standard to protect birds

Clear and reflective glass isn’t visible to up to 988 million birds that die each year when they fly into it.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 18, 2015

MD lawmaker proposes mortgage contingency requirement

The measure resulted from complaints by homebuyers about Toll Brothers.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 3, 2015

FEMA to IN: If you build it, federal funding will stop

The city of Kokomo, IN, refuses to stop the construction of a baseball stadium on a flood-prone plot.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 2, 2015

MN homebuilders race to start projects before codes kick in

New energy-efficiency rules and sprinkler requirements could add thousands to the cost of jobs.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 2, 2015

How pending legislation could have a major impact on contractors

Advocates say rules for common construction wages and construction defect claims are outdated.

By Sharon O'Malley • March 2, 2015

Commercial construction firms, others fly drones despite FAA's 'near ban'

Some real estate agents and homebuilders aren’t waiting for the agency to finalize its rules—or give its permission—to use the devices.

By Sharon O'Malley • Feb. 23, 2015

FAA commercial drone rules could prove difficult for construction professionals

A requirement to keep the device in the operator’s sight might be complicated, and even impossible, on large job sites.

By Sharon O'Malley • Feb. 18, 2015

FAA issues proposed rules for commercial use of drones

Contractors and real estate agents have been waiting for clearance to use the remote-controlled devices to photograph job sites and homes for sale.

By Sharon O'Malley • Feb. 17, 2015

Contractors, building officials arrested in NY bribery scandal

A lengthy investigation showed that money has been changing hands for years.

By Sharon O'Malley • Feb. 12, 2015

House votes to approve Keystone XL, sending measure to Obama

The bill, passed Wednesday with a 270-152 vote, could represent the first veto battle between the president and the newly elected Republican-led Congress.

By Emily Peiffer • Feb. 11, 2015

Ferguson, MO, legislator pushes to end discrimination in construction hiring

The pro-labor politician has introduced a right-to-work bill that would apply only to building contractors.

By Sharon O'Malley • Feb. 9, 2015

What's next in the Keystone XL Pipeline debate

Despite the Senate's approval of the measure and Obama's pending decision, the issue is far from over.

By Randy Lilleston • Jan. 30, 2015

Senate passes bill to construct Keystone XL pipeline

The controversial bill could reach the White House as soon as next week, but the threat of a veto is still present.

By Emily Peiffer • Jan. 29, 2015

Dispatch from IBS 2015: Solutions to common OSHA violations

Lawyer Brad Hammock addresses how to prepare for inspection during a time of heightened scrutiny.

By Mattie Quinn • Jan. 20, 2015

OSHA's top 10 job site safety violations in 2014

As usual, inadequate fall protection tops the list.

By Sharon O'Malley • Jan. 4, 2015