Home Builders Tell Congress How Permitting Roadblocks Raise Housing Costs
From NAHB Blog
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) told Congress today that federal permitting inefficiencies delay housing projects, raise construction costs and exacerbate the nation’s housing affordability crisis.
Testifying before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, NAHB Chairman Carl Harris, a custom home builder from Wichita, Kan., told lawmakers that “most land developers have been forced to step away from particular parcels of land due to the uncertainty of being able to obtain the necessary permits.”
On this issue, Harris noted that the Clean Water Act (CWA) stands out among the regulated community because it is unclear which parts of the land parcel may be considered “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) and therefore require a federal wetland permit.
“Obtaining a CWA Section 404 permit takes upwards of one year, and completing an Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation when required can take several more,” said Harris. “When considering these implications, it’s clear why we need to make the unwieldy permitting process more straightforward for home builders.”
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