Raleigh-Wake & NCHBA Defeat Fire Sprinkler Mandates
HBA: Home Building Association of Raleigh-Wake County
Category: Government Affairs
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Size: 601+ members
Year: 2024
In 2024, the Home Builders Association of Raleigh-Wake County, in partnership with the North Carolina Home Builders Association (NCHBA), successfully halted a proposed residential fire sprinkler mandate in Apex, N.C., through a coordinated campaign of advocacy, data analysis and stakeholder engagement. The HBA opposed the ordinance on the grounds that it would raise home prices by more than $10,000 without enhancing safety, citing data showing zero fire-related home deaths in Apex and the effectiveness of existing smoke alarm requirements. Their efforts led to a temporary delay of the ordinance and, ultimately, a statewide solution.
The HBA collaborated with the NCHBA to secure critical language in Senate Bill 166, which prohibited municipalities from enacting residential fire sprinkler requirements not mandated by the North Carolina Residential Code. Despite an initial veto by Governor Roy Cooper, persistent lobbying efforts led to a successful veto override. This legislative victory not only blocked the Apex ordinance but also protected housing affordability statewide, establishing a lasting precedent that major safety regulations must be justified and enacted at the state level to ensure consistency and cost-effectiveness.
