Governor Ferguson Advocates for Flexible Energy Codes for Wildfire-Affected Homeowners
OLYMPIA, Wash. – Governor Bob Ferguson has urged the Washington State Building Code Council to implement more flexible energy codes for homeowners rebuilding after this year’s devastating wildfires.
Ferguson aims to provide “meaningful relief” to affected homeowners by minimizing costs and delays associated with rebuilding. Preliminary assessments indicate that nearly a thousand residences were lost to wildfires this year, as reported by Washington State Emergency Management.
With numerous rebuilding efforts underway and others stalled, many homeowners face uncertainty, exacerbated by pending federal aid. Ferguson’s initiative also addresses the state’s ongoing housing crisis, reflecting his commitment to expedite the rebuilding process for families whose homes were destroyed.
In his letter to the Building Code Council, Ferguson proposed adopting an emergency rule allowing affected homeowners to rebuild under adjusted guidelines:
- Homes built prior to 2015: Homeowners could rebuild to the 2015 Washington State Energy Code.
- Homes built after 2015: Homeowners would be allowed to rebuild according to the energy code effective at the time of the original construction.
Ferguson specified that this flexibility should be limited to those who owned the properties at the time of the damage, preventing new owners from accessing these guidelines.
He emphasized that these proposed standards aim to alleviate the burdens on both homeowners and local jurisdictions involved in the rebuilding process. The governor has acknowledged the Building Code Council’s independent authority and encouraged them to consider his proposals for targeted flexibility.
