New Report from NAHB and ICC Focuses on Code Compliance Issues

Codes and Standards
Published

The International Code Council and NAHB recently released a new report designed to help builders improve the safety and satisfaction of their customers.

The "2019 Common Code Noncompliance Report" highlights for builders and remodelers the items code officials are most likely to flag in inspections and plan reviews during the construction process.

This information, developed from a survey of U.S. code officials, should prove valuable in helping builders and remodelers focus more intently on these potential problem areas before and during construction.

The survey found:

  • Technology has made some inroads into the development, review and issuance of construction plans.
  • Code officials identify workers ignoring the manufacturer’s installation instructions as the greatest cause of code violations.
  • There is an indication of a rising trend in new home code violations on apartments, townhouses, condominiums and custom high-end homes.

This survey is a follow-up to similar surveys deployed in April 2006 and December 2012, and the results are tracked against previous results.

In general, the following issues reported mixed improvement results from survey to survey:

  • Windows continue to be an issue.
  • Electrical grounding and bonding violations have increased.
  • Most railing and guard rail issues have decreased.

Download the full report.

For additional information, contact Felicia Watson.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

Log in or create account to subscribe to notifications of new posts.

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics
Oct 19, 2026
Builder Sentiment Falls on Rising Rates

Builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes fell three points to 29 in October, according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. The reading was the lowest since June 2012.

Safety
Oct 16, 2026
The Importance of Safety Guardrails on a Home Building Site

Join NAHB and its official safety sponsor, Builders Mutual, as we celebrate the seventh annual Guardrail Safety Week, Oct. 19-23, and be part of the difference proper guardrail use makes in protecting workers and saving lives.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics
Oct 16, 2026
Single-Family Permitting Declines Through August

Single-family permitting activity continued to soften through the first eight months of 2026, while multifamily permitting remained stronger compared with the same period last year.

Economics
Oct 16, 2026
Research Highlights the Broad Benefits of Homeownership

A rich, peer-reviewed academic literature finds that homeownership produces benefits that extend well beyond house-price appreciation.

Economics
Oct 15, 2026
Building Material Price Inflation Nears Four Year High

The Producer Price Index for final demand was up 1.3% in September, after rising 0.5% in August. Compared to a year ago, final demand prices were up 6.3%.