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HB 5803

AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Chris Blazejewski and 9 co-sponsors

Creates a statewide electronic permitting system and funding to standardize permitting, inspections, and code enforcement across state agencies and municipalities.

07/01/2025 Signed by Governor
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Bill Summary · HB 5803

Summary — HB 5803 (Sub A): "An Act Relating to Health and Safety — State Building Code"

Status / Timeline
- Introduced (RI House): Feb 27, 2025; referred to House Municipal Government & Housing.
- House passed Sub A as amended: May 6, 2025.
- Senate passed Sub A as amended in concurrence: June 21, 2025.
- Transmitted to Governor: June 25, 2025.
- Signed by Governor: July 1, 2025. (Final enacted status per legislative actions.)

Purpose and intent
- To amend Rhode Island’s State Building Code (Chapter 23‑27.3) to (a) explicitly govern the establishment, operation, and maintenance of statewide electronic permitting platforms for state and local permitting, (b) clarify the code’s scope and short title, and (c) assign duties and funding mechanisms for the State Building Code Commissioner and the electronic permitting system.

Key provisions
1. Scope and short title
- Declares the act the “Rhode Island state building code” and confirms the code controls construction, alteration, repair, demolition, inspection, permitting, rehabilitation and maintenance of buildings and structures, standards for materials, fees, and—specifically—electronic permitting platforms for state and local permits.

  1. Electronic permitting (definitions and requirements)

    • Defines “electronic permitting” (web-based tools for applications, plan submission, review, permitting, inspections, scheduling, fee calculation, tracking, etc.).
    • Directs the Building Commissioner to develop and implement a standard statewide process and a technology/implementation plan for a uniform, web-accessible electronic plan review, permit management, and inspection system to be used by state agencies and municipalities.
    • Specifies the electronic permitting system to support applications and permits across multiple state entities (e.g., Department of Environmental Management, Department of Transportation, Coastal Resources Management Council) and local municipal zoning/planning processes.

  2. Duties and authority of the State Building Code Commissioner

    • Grants enforcement authority over the state building code and referenced codes.
    • Directs the Commissioner to work (with input from the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns) to standardize code interpretations statewide and ensure consistent enforcement.
    • Requires an annual certification process, developed with the State Fire Marshal, for tents and membrane structures; such structures are to be subject to annual certification rather than recurring permit and fee requirements.

  3. Fee structure and dedicated uses

    • Establishes an additional levy on permit applicants:
      • Commercial permits: 0.1% (one‑tenth percent) of total construction cost.
      • Residential permits: 0.2% (two‑tenths percent) of total construction cost.
      • Cap for one- and two‑family dwelling permits: $100 per permit.
    • Collections: levies transmitted monthly to the State Building Office (Department of Business Regulation) and deposited as general revenues.
    • Allocation:
      • 100% of the commercial permit levy and 50% of the residential levy: to staff, purchase/lease, and operate the statewide electronic permitting/plan review/inspection system (deposited as general revenues).
      • 50% of the residential levy: transferred to Department of Labor & Training’s contractor training restricted receipt account (exempt from indirect cost recovery); funds used, subject to appropriation, for contractor training grants (including minority business enterprises and local building officials).

  4. Cross‑agency fee authorities

    • Local governments and state agencies using the electronic permitting platform will charge applicants in accordance with applicable statutes cited in the bill.

Potential impacts
- Operational: Establishes responsibility and funding to implement and operate a statewide electronic permitting and plan-review system intended to standardize permitting workflows and inspections across municipalities and relevant state agencies.
- Fiscal: Creates a modest new statewide revenue stream (0.1%–0.2% levy on construction cost) with a portion explicitly dedicated to system operations and contractor training grants; revenues are deposited primarily as general revenues, while the contractor training account is a restricted receipt fund (subject to appropriation).
- Administrative: Centralizes enforcement and interpretation standardization under the State Building Code Commissioner, likely increasing state oversight and promoting consistency across local jurisdictions.
- Regulatory: Introduces an annual certification system for tents/membrane structures in lieu of recurring permit/fee requirements.

Note: The bill text includes references to implementation actions and system deadlines (some carried from prior law). Municipalities and multiple state agencies are included among intended users of the electronic permitting platform.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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