Updated HUD Form Allows New Homes to Meet IECC Energy Requirements to Qualify for FHA Financing

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development has updated its Builder’s Certification of Plans, Specifications and Site form to require home builders to certify that a new home complies with the 2006 International Energy Conservation Code or a newer edition of the code. Homes not in compliance with the IECC will not qualify for Federal Housing Administration loan financing. While this is not a federal requirement for all new homes, it is a requirement for any home a builder wants to be eligible for FHA financing.

The International Code Council was part of a coalition that worked with HUD to implement the legislation that includes the IECC compliance requirement. The Code Council encourages its members and all code officials to alert home builders to the new requirement when a residential building permit application is filed. The IECC requirement for federal financing includes homes built in all jurisdictions, even those that have not adopted the 2006 IECC or a later version, or have no energy code.

The International Code Council is a member-focused association. It is dedicated to developing model codes and standards used in the design, build and compliance process to construct safe, sustainable, affordable and resilient structures. Most U.S. communities and many global markets choose the International Codes.