Co-Sponsorship Memo Details

In the near future, I will be re-introducing Senate Bill 634 of last session. This legislation amends the PA Construction Code Act to require that municipalities, which opt to enforce the Uniform Construction Code (UCC) by utilizing third-party agencies, contract with at least two third-party agencies.

Currently, over 90% of Pennsylvania's 2,560 municipalities have elected to administer and enforce the UCC locally, using their own employees, joint administration, or via certified third-party agencies that they have retained. It is estimated that about 60% of the “opt-in” municipalities have chosen to administer the UCC by contracting with a third-party agency, with a majority only using one third-party agency.

This legislation simply requires that municipalities with third-party agency monopolies contract with another third-party agency to provide a choice for property owners. This legislation also provides a means for very rural municipalities to obtain a waiver from the “two or more” requirement if they cannot contract with a second third-party agency.

Please join me in supporting this important piece of legislation that will afford much needed relief to property owners by providing options in the selection of a third-party agency to review their construction documents and perform inspection services.