Statement of Scope
Department of Safety and Professional Services
Relating to: | Natural Light in Rooms over Garages |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
Not applicable.
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
The objective of this rulemaking is to eliminate the natural light requirements for rooms above garages.
3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
The Uniform Dwelling Code currently requires habitable rooms to be provided with glazed openings with an area equal to at least 8 percent of the room’s floor area. Exceptions are made for habitable rooms, other than bedrooms, in basements or ground floors.
The proposed rule would add an exception for rooms built over garages. The alternative of not updating the Code would result in continuation of the current natural light requirements for rooms above garages.
4. Detailed explanation of statutory authority for the rule (including the statutory citation and language):
Section 227.11 (2) (a) of the Statutes authorizes the Department to promulgate rules interpreting any statute that is enforced or administered by the Department, if the rule is considered necessary to effectuate the purpose of the statute. Section 101.63 (1) requires the Department to establish standards for the construction and inspection of one- and two-family dwellings and components thereof. No set of rules may be adopted that has not taken into account the conservation of energy in construction and maintenance of dwellings and the costs of specific code provisions to home buyers in relationship to the benefits derived from the provisions. 5. Estimate of amount of time that state employees will spend developing the rule and of other resources necessary to develop the rule:
100 hours.
6. List with description of all entities that may be affected by the proposed rule:
This rulemaking may affect entities involved in the construction, remodeling, or inspection of one- and two-family dwellings, including modular homes.
7. Summary and preliminary comparison with any existing or proposed federal regulation that is intended to address the activities to be regulated by the proposed rule:
No current or proposed federal regulations were found relating to this rulemaking.
8. Anticipated economic impact of implementing the rule (note if the rule is likely to have a significant economic impact on small businesses):
The rule changes contemplated in this project are not expected to have any negative economic impacts on any of the entities listed above.
