Before the coronavirus, affordable housing was one of the hottest topics in the housing industry, and despite the shift in focus, the need for affordable options remains. In order to address that gap, Okla. Gov. Kevin Stitt signed into law an affordable housing bill that limits regulation on purely aesthetic building design that raises the cost of housing. Prior to the law, local governments could prohibit exterior finishes such as vinyl, wood, and aluminum despite being allowed by building code. This law, which the Oklahoma Home Builders Association (OkHBS) and Oklahoma Realtors Association lobbied for, will protect entry-level buyers from being priced out of the market.
In a victory for home builders and housing affordability, Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt (R) has signed SB 1713 into law. The legislation will limit cities and counties from regulating purely aesthetic building design that would needlessly raise the cost of housing.
The Oklahoma Home Builders Association (OkHBA), along with the Oklahoma Realtors Association, the Affordable Housing Coalition and other trade groups and consumers, lobbied aggressively for this legislative remedy after some Oklahoma towns proposed residential design changes that would prohibit exterior finishes such as vinyl, wood and aluminum siding that are otherwise permitted under all editions of the International Residential Code. Other proposed changes such as roof pitch or front facing garages would collectively increase building costs and price entry-level buyers out of the market.
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