The development, adoption, evaluation, enhancement and enforcement of building codes and standards is a priority for HMA. Assistance for codes and standards-related activities can take place under three HMA programs: HMGP, HMGP Post Fire and BRIC. Eligible activities under these three programs are generally the same, but assistance restrictions (i.e., the ways in which these activities can be funded) differ.
The activities outlined below relate to both building codes and land use ordinances. Codes and standards activities help implement planning-related activities by focusing on where and how communities build in response to potential hazards. The phrase “codes and standards activities” can relate to codes and standards for buildings and structures as well as equivalent industry-accepted standards for non-building infrastructure projects.
Land use ordinances also can increase resilience by controlling the type and location of future building development. Under HMGP, HMGP Post Fire and BRIC, planning-related activities may allow for the evaluation, adoption and/or implementation of land use and development codes including but not limited to zoning codes, form-based codes, subdivision codes and floodplain management ordinances, that reduce risk and/or increase resilience to future hazards. For more information on eligible activities and funding restrictions, refer to Part 11.A.
To promote code enforcement and improvement activities early in the recovery period, assistance may be available under HMGP and HMGP Post Fire for eligible codes and standards-related activities. This assistance can be applied for after receiving the 30-day and/or six-month HMGP assistance estimates. Refer to Part 10 for more information about available assistance amounts for HMGP and HMGP Post Fire and Part 3 for more information on coordinating with the PA Mitigation program.