HAZARD MITIGATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND POLICY GUIDE: CODES AND
STANDARDS UPDATES
[https://www.fema.gov/fact-sheet/hazard-mitigation-assistance-program-and-policy-guide-codes-and-standards-updates]


The 2023 update to the Hazard Mitigation Assistance Program and Policy
Guide (HMA Guide) provides expanded guidance on codes and standards
activities for the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
[https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation/when-you-apply/program-support-materials]
and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire
[https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/post-fire].

These fact sheets summarize specific policy changes in the 2023 HMA
Guide. For complete policy details, read all relevant sections of the
2023 HMA Guide
[https://www.fema.gov/grants/mitigation/hazard-mitigation-assistance-guidance].

CHANGES TO CODES AND STANDARDS ACTIVITIES

The HMA Guide includes the following changes regarding codes and
standards activities for these two programs.  

 	* Expanded Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities codes
and standards activity eligibility to Hazard Mitigation Grant Program
and Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire and provided a dedicated
codes and standards activity section in Part 11.
 	* Included additional details regarding post-disaster building code
enforcement in Part 3 and Part 11.
 	* Renamed the “Additional 5% Initiative” to “5% Codes and
Standards” and revised the eligibility criteria.

EXPANSION OF ELIGIBLE CODES AND STANDARDS ACTIVITIES

The HMA Guide has expanded eligible codes and standards activities
that were made available under Building Resilient Infrastructure and
Communities to both Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire. These changes increase the
availability and accessibility of these funds for state, local, tribal
and territorial governments.

Codes and standards activities that may be eligible under these
programs include:

 	* Evaluation of the adoption and/or implementation of codes to
reduce risk.
 	* Enhancement of existing adopted codes to incorporate more current
requirements or higher standards.
 	* Development of professional workforce capabilities through
technical assistance and training with the use of tools such as
available e-permitting software, remote, virtual and drone inspection
technologies.
 	* Evaluation of the adoption and/or implementation of land use and
zoning ordinances.
 	* Post-disaster building code enforcement.

For more detailed information on eligible codes and standards
activities, refer to Part 11 of the HMA Guide.

ADDITIONAL POST-DISASTER CODE ENFORCEMENT INFORMATION

The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program Post Fire may provide assistance for code enforcement after a
disaster to ensure that disaster-resistant building codes (codes,
standards and local ordinances that promote disaster resistance) are
adopted and implemented. Eligible costs are “extraordinary”
post-disaster code enforcement costs, or the costs that exceed the
building department’s normal costs.

Under FEMA Public Assistance, a state, tribe, territory or local
applicant may receive assistance for building code enforcement and
administration activities up to 180 days after a major disaster
declaration. After the 180-day period, these entities may receive
assistance to continue these same activities under the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program or Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Post Fire.
 More information can be found in Part 3 and Part 11 of the HMA Guide
and FEMA Policy #204-079-01
[https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/2020-10/fema_building-dode-floodplain-management-ddministration-enforcement-policy_drra-1206_signed_10-15-2020.pdf]:_
_Building Code and Floodplain Management Administration and
Enforcement (Oct. 15, 2020).

5% CODES AND STANDARDS

The 2015 HMA Guidance provided additional funding through the
Additional 5% Initiative, which was set aside to help communities
enhance disaster resilience related to building codes, such as
adopting the most current edition of the International Building Code
and improving a community’s Building Code Effectiveness Grading
Schedule score.

During the 2023 HMA Guide update, FEMA renamed the “Additional 5%
Initiative” to “5% Codes and Standards” and expanded the scope
of eligible codes and standards activities. The name and requirements
have been updated to provide dedicated funding to strengthen the use
of disaster-resistant building codes and standards for these two
programs. FEMA has also removed the requirement for a community to
improve its Building Code Effectiveness Grading Schedule score prior
to closeout as a condition of award.

COMBINING 5% CODES AND STANDARDS AND THE 5% INITIATIVE

Under the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Hazard Mitigation Grant
Program Post Fire, 5% Codes and Standards may be paired with the 5%
Initiative for a total of up to 10% of the ceiling (or available
assistance amount) that recipients can use towards codes and standards
activities. For more information about 5% Codes and Standards and the
5% Initiative, refer to Part 10 of the HMA Guide.