Government Affairs

Our Association Works Because Our Association Works

The Home Builders Association of West Florida (HBA) is your leading advocate for the building industry; representing Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties before county commissions, planning boards and state agencies. The HBA continues to be at the forefront of issues that affect the business environment of the building industry. The HBA continues to fight unnecessary fees and seeks ways to stop burdensome regulations.

• The HBA got involved after Emerald Coast Utilities Authority said it would not cut or restore a roadway to make a water or sewer connections in the City of Pensacola. ECUA reinstated its policy to provide the cuts, hookups and restoration of a roadway with a temporary patch. The HBA brought City and ECUA leaders together to discuss policies and procedures to keep costs down.

• The HBA won an impact fee battle against Farm Hill Utility who demanded developers pay a water tap fee of $2,000, per lot, up front. Meaning a 100-lot subdivision developer would have to pay $200,000 upfront to build a subdivision. Through a vigorous legal challenge, Farm Hill rescinded its policy.

• The HBA supported Florida’s Great Northwest (FGNW) with a $15,000 donation – a three-year commitment at $5,000 a year. Florida’s Great Northwest is the regional economic development organization, that is working to make sure the eight disproportionately affected counties from the BP Oil Spill receive its fair share.

• Worked to maintain a 500 feet notification of a land use change in Escambia County instead of the proposed 2,500 feet. This will enable land use changes in dense areas not to be burdened by expensive mailings.

• Working to fix the Workers’ Compensation rate increase problem in Florida by lobbying the legislature on a Workers’ Comp bill that will reduce workers’ comp rates, decrease litigation, and provide additional benefits for injured workers.

• Successfully lobbied the Santa Rosa County Commission to eliminate the $2,200 impact fee on new construction.

• Emerald Coast Utilities Authority implemented new lift station standards without public input that increased costs from $120,000 - $160,000 making it difficult for smaller developments to be constructed.

• The HBA has prudently spent over $150,000 on legal and consulting fees to fight for issues that affect your business in Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties.

• Worked with the Florida Home Builders to obtain $167 million in funding for affordable housing under Sadowski Act (SHIP and Sail programs) for down payment assistance and multifamily construction.

• The HBA was part of the process to re-write Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties Comprehensive Plans. With the HBA’s involvement, we now have land available for the foreseeable future for development.

• Saved members thousands of dollars by supporting the adoption of the International Building Code, modified with Florida-specific amendments, as the basis for the Florida Building Code. This also kept mandatory fire sprinklers out of residential housing.

• Worked to gain $250,000 in funding to support strategic “stings and sweeps” to combat unlicensed activity in the state.

• We've lobbied local and state elected officials, and local planning boards for sensible growth policies that will give our members a chance to continue develop and build in the Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

• Brought builders a five-year reduction in the statute of repose, taking builders off the hook for latent defects in their homes. Also for home builders, brought you “notice-and-right-to-cure,” protecting builders from surprise lawsuits by home buyers.

• Worked to gain funding for the final phase of the study to preserve the safe and effective use of septic tanks in the Panhandle and Florida.

• Worked for a sensible School Concurrency ordinance that will not penalize developers for building near schools.

Home Builder Bills Opposed and Defeated In 2018 Legislature

• HB 1085 and SB 1470: Prohibited new construction within a radius of a state road that received a failing grade.

• HB 1085 and SB 1470: Prohibited new construction within a radius of a state road that received a failing grade.

• HB 1077 and SB 1322: Penalized contractors for open permits even if the open status was not due to the negligence of the contractor.

• HB 377 and SB 734: Placed Home Owner Association’s under the jurisdiction of DBPR including fines, fees, and burdensome regulatory requirements. Would have changed the turnover timing to 75 percent of lots sold.

• HB 295 and SB 446: Mandated use of journeyman electricians on commercial sites, including neighborhood clubhouses and pool houses.

• HB 89 and SB 604: Allowed the piercing of a contractor’s corporate veil if the contractor failed to maintain “adequate” general liability insurance coverage.