Rulemaking Flowchart

The legislature grants authority to state agencies to propose building standards.

To begin the process, proposing state agencies hold precycle workshops to develop proposed building standards. Precycle workshops are an opportunity for the public to participate and provide input on the building standards that may be proposed.

After the workshops, the agencies prepare their required documents, including the Express Terms, Notice of Proposed Action and Initial Statement of Reasons, and submit them to CBSC to begin the CBSC rulemaking cycle.

Rulemaking cycles occur approximately every 18 months.

Model codes are adopted every three years in a triennial cycle.

Intervening cycles are to make necessary code changes between triennial cycles.

CBSC convenes the Code Advisory Committees (CAC) and holds meetings where they will make recommendations to the commission regarding the state agencies’ proposals. Those recommendations are to approve, disapprove, approve as amended or further study required. CAC meetings are an opportunity for the public to participate and provide input on the proposed building standards.

CBSC provides the CAC recommendations to the state agencies for their consideration.

State agencies review the CAC recommendations and, in response, may update their proposed building standards.

At this point, the Administrative Procedure Act portion of the cycle begins and can last for a maximum of one year.

The state agencies resubmit their proposed building standards to CBSC.

CBSC issues the agencies’ Notices of Proposed Action and files them with the Office of Administrative Law for proper Notice Register posting.

At the start of the 45-day public comment period, or if the public requests that an agency hold a public hearing, CBSC posts the agency’s Notice of Proposed Action, Express Terms, Initial Statement of Reasons and other required documents on its website. Public comment periods are an opportunity for the public to participate and provide input on the proposed building standards.

State agencies consider public comments and may amend proposed building standards, and take the following action.

If substantive amendments are made, another 45-day public comment period is required.

If non-substantive and sufficiently related amendments are made, a 15-day public comment period is required.

If no amendments are made, or the additional public comment periods conclude, state agencies submit their final documents to CBSC, including Final Express Terms, the Final Statement of Reasons, which includes a summary and response to comments, an Updated Informative Digest and all other required documents.

At a meeting before the public, agencies present their proposed building standards to the commission.

Building standards that are adopted and approved are filed with the Secretary of State.

Building standards that are adopted and approved are prepared for publication in Title 24 during a triennial cycle, or as a supplement to Title 24 during an intervening cycle.

The rulemaking record is closed and the building standards become effective at least 180 days after publication.

The length of time to complete the rulemaking process varies from 12 to 18 months.