Housing (Building Codes)

Michigan House Bill 6303 amends the state's construction code act to prohibit local enforcing agencies from requiring air tightness testing for commercial buildings. The bill specifically prevents the director of the construction code from creating rules that mandate this type of test to verify the continuity of a building's envelope. It directly affects commercial property owners and builders by removing a potential regulatory requirement for verifying how well a structure seals against air leakage. This legislation is tied to House Bill 6304 and will not take effect unless that companion bill is also enacted into law.

This bill allows cities in Michigan to deny building permits, certificates of use and occupancy, or variances to individuals who owe unpaid fines or assessments related to local construction code enforcement. However, the law explicitly exempts certain entities from these penalties, including government-sponsored housing groups, financial institutions, credit union service organizations, and licensed mortgage servicers. Additionally, the bill ensures that permits cannot be denied if the proposed construction work is intended to fix the specific code violation that caused the original fine. The legislation will only take effect if a companion bill, HB 6177, is also passed into law.

This bill requires owners converting existing buildings into accessory dwelling units to ensure their foundations meet current frost protection standards. To qualify for an exemption from this rule, applicants must provide a document showing the building is at least 10 years old and include a professional engineer's statement confirming there is no evidence of significant frost heaving that could threaten the structure's safety. The legislation directly impacts homeowners and developers seeking to add secondary living spaces to older properties without rebuilding their foundations.

SB 84 prevents local governments (like cities or counties) from banning gas-burning appliances in residential buildings. It specifically stops ordinances that would prohibit the use of certain gas appliances - such as furnaces, dryers, and stoves - that rely on a continuously burning pilot light (small constant flame) for operation. The bill includes exceptions for mobile homes, propane-only appliances, and models meeting federal energy efficiency standards. This law requires local governments to allow these gas appliances in new or existing homes, overriding any conflicting local rules.