In an era where billion-dollar disasters are becoming the norm, one truth stands above the wreckage: strong building codes save buildings – and lives. Yet despite mounting risks, the U.S. remains caught in a paradox. We have the knowledge and tools to build safer structures, but adoption and enforcement lag.
In fact, according to FEMA, 65% of U.S. counties, cities and towns have not adopted modern building codes.
It’s time to reframe the narrative around modernizing building codes. Building code compliance isn’t red tape; it’s a frontline defense. But key stakeholders have outdated perceptions of modernized building codes. Couple that with cost concerns and a lack of urgency, the progress of updating building codes to meet the enhanced severe weather events we are facing is in danger of stalling.
To protect people and property, keep businesses open and communities intact and most importantly, save lives, we must position building codes as a strategic investment in long-term resilience – not as a regulatory burden.
The Risk Reality
The frequency and severity of natural disasters are rising, with property owners deeply concerned about the future. Since 2023, concern about severe weather has increased significantly in wildfire (+28 points) and hurricane (+16 points) zones. A recent survey from Nationwide of commercial property owners revealed that one in three of them have already experienced damage from a natural disaster, increasing to nearly two in three in hurricane-prone regions.
But as recent events show us, severe weather isn’t just a coastal problem – inland risks like wind and wildfires are rising, too. Structural damage, business interruption and water intrusion are top concerns.
