AIA/WA Testifies Against Expanded Liability for Building Officials

The legislature’s concern over the poor construction in the residential market continued today with a hearing on a bill to add statutory liability for building officials if a problem occurs. SB 5892 was introduced in 2007 by Senator Jim Honeyford (R-15, Yakima). The hearing was held before the Senate Consumer Protection & Housing Committee.

The bill would hold a city or county building official “liable for damages caused by their negligent failure to enforce the provisions of the state building code.” AIA/WA testified that there are many other measures before the legislature to address problems with residential construction including, licensing home inspectors, licensing residential construction contractors, and other bills. More fundamentally, the solution to bad construction practices is not to create new lawsuits. Education, training and enforcement are better ways to address the problems.