How to Help Builders Stay on the Job

Codes and Standards
Published

NAHB is committed to ensuring members continue to operate their businesses throughout the coronavirus pandemic as certain states and local municipalities explore and enact “remain in place” orders. We know all jurisdictions are different, and continue to monitor the ever-changing situations across the United States.

“Remain in place” orders prohibit all activity and all travel, except for three categories:

  • Essential activities
  • Essential businesses
  • Essential government functions

Under all circumstances, including those covered under one of these three essential categories, people should maintain a social distance of 6 feet from each other.

Housing is a major engine of the economy, and keeping the men and women of the industry working must be a priority. New home construction and remodeling and incidental businesses must be considered part of the essential infrastructure so that people continue to have safe, habitable places to live now and after the pandemic is over.

NAHB members across the country should prepare for the possibility that "remain in place" orders may go into effect in their jurisdiction. Although many states and local municipalities have deemed residential construction an essential business, jurisdictions such as Pennsylvania have excluded it. This further complicates the struggles builders are already facing not only related to coronavirus — including permitting delays, supply chain disruptions, etc. — but in increasing the much-needed supply of housing as well.

A number of state and local home builder associations (HBAs) have successfully advocated that residential construction be deemed an essential infrastructure business because of the necessary support it provides to the community.

“While citizens are coping with a variety of restrictions as a result of the health crisis, it is essential that they have access to our professionals to build and maintain essential services like plumbing, electrical, HVAC systems, water/wastewater treatment plants and power generation facilities, hospitals and roads, and provide them shelter,” the Colorado Association of Home Builders noted in a coalition letter to the governor advocating for an exemption for home builders and trades.

To help members track requirements across jurisdictions, NAHB has created a map detailing which states and municipalities have enacted orders that may impact builders. The map is part of NAHB’s Coronavirus Preparedness and Response page, which includes business continuity resources to help builders maintain operations throughout this crisis. It also includes advocacy resources for state and local HBAs whose local jurisdiction may be exploring similar “remain in place” provisions to ensure residential construction is rightfully designated as an essential infrastructure business.

NAHB will continually update the map, as well as its list of HBA and business resources, as more information becomes available. See more at nahb.org/coronavirus.

For more state and local resources and help with advocacy efforts, contact Karl Eckhart.

Subscribe to NAHBNow

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

Log in to subscribe

Latest from NAHBNow

Economics

Jul 03, 2025

Consumer Confidence Retreats in June

After a strong rebound in May, consumer confidence resumed its downward trend in June. Consumers remain concerned about the economy and labor market amid ongoing uncertainty, especially around tariffs.

Sponsored Content

Jul 02, 2025

5 Proven Strategies Smart Builders Use to Grow in Any Market

Sound Capital has worked with builders across market cycles for over 20 years. They have seen who thrived when others pulled back, and they've studied the strategies they used to scale while competitors were sidelined. Here are five things they all had in common.

View all

Latest Economic News

Economics

Jul 03, 2025

Solid Job Growth in June

The U.S. labor market continued to show resilience in June, with steady job gains led by state/local government and health care sectors.

Economics

Jul 02, 2025

Two or More Story Home Starts Rebound in 2024

Over half of new single-family homes built in 2024 were two or more stories, according the recent release of the Census Bureau’s Survey of Construction (SOC). After declining in 2023, the share of homes started with two or more stories increased again in 2024, continuing the upward trend in place since 2020.

Economics

Jul 01, 2025

May Private Residential Construction Spending Dips

Private residential construction spending fell by 0.5% in May, marking the fifth straight month of decreases. This drop was primarily driven by reduced spending on single-family construction. Compared to a year ago, total spending was down 6.7%, as the housing sector continues to navigate the economic uncertainty stemming from ongoing tariff concerns and elevated mortgage rates.