Public Assistance Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications, and Standards Policy Update Public Comment Period
FEMA is seeking public comments on its updated Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications, and Standards (CBCSS) Policy through April 26 2024.
Date: March 26, 2024 - April 26, 2024
Important Date
Event Details
Note that the comment period has ended.
The CBCSS Policy defines the framework and requirements for the consistent and appropriate implementation of consensus-based design and construction codes, specifications, and standards required as a condition of grant funding by the Public Assistance (PA) Program. Application of this policy will increase resilience of communities impacted by presidentially-declared disasters by requiring the use of hazard-resistant design criteria in the repair and restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure.
As amended by Section 1235(b) of the Disaster Recovery Reform Act of 2018 (DRRA), Section 406(e) requires FEMA to fund repair, restoration, reconstruction, or replacement in conformity with "the latest published editions of relevant consensus-based codes, specifications, and standards that incorporate the latest hazard-resistant design and establish minimum acceptable criteria for the design, construction, and maintenance of residential structures and facilities that may be eligible for assistance under this Act for the purposes of protecting the health, safety, and general welfare of a facility's users against disasters."
State, local, tribal and territorial governments, as well as certain nonprofits and others who have an interest in FEMA Public Assistance funding, are encouraged to review and comment on the agency’s updated Consensus-Based Codes, Specifications and Standards (CBCSS) Policy.
The 30-day public comment period is open through April 26, 2024. Comments can be submitted via email through the link above or directly to fema-recovery-pa-policy@fema.dhs.gov with “CBCSS Policy” as the subject line.