S 2909Workplace Safety

Health and Safety - State Building Code

This bill allows for virtual building inspections and lets builders hire third-party inspectors if local officials take too long.

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Introduced Mar 4, 2026Committee Senate Housing & Municipal Government

Plain-English Summary

This legislation amends the Rhode Island State Building Code to modernize the inspection process. It authorizes building officials to conduct "virtual inspections" using video technology or photographic evidence to verify completed work, rather than requiring an in-person visit. Furthermore, the bill addresses delays in the inspection process; if a local building official fails to perform a requested inspection within 48 hours, the contractor or builder is permitted to hire a qualified third-party inspector or a state inspector. The local official must accept the findings of these alternative inspectors.

For younger readers

When a house or building is being built, a special worker called an inspector has to check it to make sure it is safe. Sometimes, the inspector takes too long to show up, which makes the builders wait. This new rule says that if the inspector is too slow, the builder can hire a different expert to do the checking so they can keep working. It also says that inspectors can use video calls or photos to check the work instead of driving to the building, which helps things get done faster.

Who & Where It Applies

Impacted groups

Contractors and BuildersLocal Building OfficialsHomeownersReal Estate DevelopersThird-party Inspectors

Impacted communities

All

Constitutional & Fiscal Check

None Likely

Estimated cost

Amount unknown

Estimated revenue

Amount unknown

Bill Analysis

Both viewpoints

For Progressives

Encourages the timely construction of housing and infrastructure by removing bureaucratic bottlenecks, potentially helping to alleviate housing shortages.
Reduces the carbon footprint associated with municipal services by allowing virtual inspections, thereby decreasing the number of vehicle trips required for government officials.
Increases government accountability by establishing strict timelines for service delivery, ensuring that public officials are responsive to community needs.
Promotes the privatization of public services by allowing private, third-party inspectors to perform duties traditionally reserved for government officials.
Creates a potential conflict of interest where builders pay the inspectors directly, which could compromise the rigorous enforcement of safety codes and standards.
Imposes financial penalties on cities and towns by requiring them to reimburse the state for inspections, potentially straining local budgets that support other social services.

For Conservatives

Empowers the private sector by allowing builders to bypass inefficient government bureaucracy and hire third-party professionals to keep projects moving.
Reduces the cost of doing business for contractors and developers by minimizing costly delays caused by government inaction.
Promotes modernization and efficiency in government processes by formally recognizing the validity of remote and virtual technologies.
Mandates that local municipalities reimburse the state for inspection costs, which could be viewed as an unfunded mandate or state overreach into local fiscal management.
Potential for virtual inspections to be less thorough than physical inspections, posing a risk to property values and long-term structural integrity.
Increases state-level involvement in local affairs if state inspectors are utilized to override local building officials.

Votes

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Full Bill Text

Changes to existing Rhode Island law · 6 additions

SECTION 1. Section 23-27.3-111.2 of the General Laws in Chapter 23-27.3 entitled "State Building Code" is hereby amended to read as follows: 23-27.3-111.2. Inspection.

(a) The building official shall make all required inspections as specified in the provisions of this code and the building official shall conduct the inspections from time to time during and upon completion of the work for which the building official has issued a permit; and the building official shall maintain a record of all the examinations and inspections and of all violations of this code. In conjunction with specific construction projects, the building official may designate specific inspection points in the course of construction which require the contractor or builder to give the building official twenty-four (24) hours notice prior to the time when the inspections are required to be performed. The building official shall make the inspection within forty-eight (48) hours after the notification; weekend days and holidays are not included in the forty-eight (48) hours. The building official, in the building official’s discretion, may conduct “virtual inspections”, or inspect photographic evidence, to review completion of work for which the building official has issued a permit. For the purposes of this section “virtual inspections” involve remote assessments of properties or sites using video technology, avoiding on-site presence by inspectors.

(b) If the building official fails to perform an inspection within the time frame set forth in this section, the contractor or builder may hire a qualified third-party inspector or the state inspector. The building official shall accept reports of such inspections. For the purposes of this section, a qualified third-party inspector shall mean an individual certified in accordance with the provisions of § 23-27.3-107.6 or any professional authorized by the provisions of § 23-27.3- 108.1.4. In order to hire a qualified third-party inspector or the state inspector, the contractor or builder shall notify the building official via email of the intent to hire a qualified third-party inspector or the state inspector to perform the inspection at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the hire. If the state inspector performs the inspection, the salary and operating expenses for services provided shall be reimbursed to the state by the city or town receiving the services and shall be deposited as general revenues.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.