AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE -- ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT (Permits property owners or contractors to utilize an independent building inspector if the municipality’s building inspector does not inspect the property within twenty days of notification.)

S2911

2026 -- S 2911
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LC005516
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE --
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT

Introduced By:
Senators LaMountain, Burke, Dimitri, Felag, and Bissaillon

Date Introduced:
March 04, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Housing & Municipal Government
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-108.1.4 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled
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"State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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23-27.3-108.1.4. Inspections.
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(a)
The building official
or the alternate building official appointed pursuant to § 23-27.3-
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107.2,
shall make all of the required inspections, or he or she may accept reports of inspections
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from a qualified registered professional engineer or architect or others certified by the committee
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and all reports of the inspections shall be in writing, or the building official may engage such experts
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as he or she may deem necessary to report upon unusual technical issues that may arise.
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(b) The building official or the alternate building official appointed pursuant to § 23-27.3-
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107.2, shall make all of the required inspections in a timely manner and if, required inspections are
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not completed within twenty (20) calendar days after receiving notification from the property owner
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or contractor, the property owner or contractor may utilize the services of an independent building
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inspector that is qualified under this chapter to conduct the required inspections.
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(c) If the property owner or contractor utilizes the services of an independent building
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inspector pursuant to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section, the building official or
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alternate building official, shall be required to accept the findings of the independent building
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inspector.

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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY -- STATE BUILDING CODE --
ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT
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This act would permit property owners or contractors to utilize an independent building
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inspector if the municipality’s building inspector does not inspect the property within twenty (20)
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days of notification.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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