Legislators Seek To Block Local Regulation Of Housing Design

A bipartisan group of six members of the Georgia House of Representatives has introduced legislation that would prohibit local governments from adopting or enforcing ordinances regulating building design for one and two-family housing.

The proposed law is far reaching and has been called “mammoth pre-emptive legislation” by the Association County Commissioners of Georgia. It also is opposed by the Georgia Municipal Association.

The law mentions specifically a prohibition against regulation of the types of foundation structures on one and two-family homes.

Oconee County has been in a battle with the housing industry over its decision in June of 2018 to prohibit slab foundations on most single-family housing and is the defendant in a lawsuit filed late last year on that decision.

Lead author on the proposed legislation is Vance Smith, a Republican from House District 133, north of Columbus, who is joined by three other Republicans, including House Majority Leader Jon Burns from Newington, north of Savannah.

Democrats Spencer Frye from Athens and Winfred Dukes of Albany also are sponsors of the bill.

For more on the story, please go to Oconee County Observations.

Pictured: Frye, Smith.