2026 UPDATE
States are Reconsidering the Pace of Code Adoption
Code adoption is no longer just a technical decision. Communities are weighing cost, staff capacity, industry readiness, political feasibility, and enforcement outcomes. A slower cycle does not reduce the need for code expertise; it increases the need for clear adoption roadmaps, amendment analysis, stakeholder facilitation, training, and defensible local justification.
Regulatory Cost Arguments Are Becoming Central to Code Debates
Cost concerns are real, but not all regulatory costs are the same. Service managers should help clients separate legitimate implementation barriers from broad anti-code messaging. SCA can support communities by identifying what is required, what is optional, what can be phased, and where better documentation, staffing, or process improvements can reduce friction. A key opportunity is helping jurisdictions address review delays, entitlement-to-permit timelines, and staffing gaps through plan review support, inspections, and process improvements.
Federal Energy Code Messaging Has Shifted and is Now Contested
Energy code discussions are entering a more politically contested period. SCA should avoid relying on slogans from either side and instead support clients with jurisdiction-specific analysis. Policies that may be in play for discussion include energy choice laws that prevent the banning of any single fuel type. The best defense of energy code work is clear documentation, practical training, and an implementation plan that builders and reviewers can use.
Resiliency Linked to More Federal Dollars for Funding Codes
Modern codes are increasingly treated as infrastructure, resilience, and disaster mitigation tools, not just permitting rules. SCA can help communities connect code adoption, enforcement staffing, training, plan review, inspection programs, and post-disaster capacity to these broader federal funds for support.
Federal Housing Legislation Stalls May Send Middle Housing Questions to State and Locals
Housing reform does not implement itself. Once a jurisdiction allows triplexes, cottage housing, townhomes, small multifamily, adaptive reuse, or faster permit timelines, the building department becomes the implementation point. Jurisdictions will need code interpretation, plan review capacity, inspection readiness, permit workflow support, applicant guidance, and defensible procedures. SCA should position itself as the implementation partner for housing reform. Policy sets the direction, but building safety staff make it real. Our role is helping jurisdictions move faster without losing code compliance, public safety, consistency, or trust.