With the intent of creating a kit home category of building codes to allow smaller houses that should be more affordable to homebuyers, SB 5552 received a unanimous vote in the Senate and continues to advance.

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wilson (R-Longview), is short and simple. It defines “kit homes” as “any structures intended for residential use that are comprised of prefabricated walls, floors, and roofs which are assembled on-site and are 800 square feet or smaller.” SB 5552 then directs the State Building Code Council (SBCC) to initiate rulemaking on kit homes no later than December 31, 2025, and allows the SBCC to update the state building codes. A good little bill.

Dates to remember

SB 5552 is scheduled for a committee vote in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, April 1 at 10:30 am and Wednesday, April 2 at 10:30 am.