Notes on Table: 

• Click on the state name to go to the website for the state legislature. Where we could, we linked directly to the search engine for the state law. You can use it to look up citations or topics and to confirm that you have the latest version of the law. 

• NCHH and NCSL focused the research on the first three columns (Landlord-Tenant, Housing/Maintenance, and Health/Sanitation). Where you see a "none found," it means that we were unable to find a law in the state that fit that category. We have not yet completed the check for the other columns.  In those columns, if we did not find anything, the box is blank. 

• NCHH and NCSL will continue to update the table is it identifies necessary changes. If you see something missing or in error, please contact NCSL's Doug Farquhar at doug.farquhar@ncsl.org. We can also add links to brochures and webpages summarizing the law. 

• The Categories:

  • Landlord-Tenant:  We included laws that addressed the relationship between the owner and the occupant. Typically, these are landlord-tenant laws.  But they also include laws dealing with condominium associations and mobile home parks.  For landlord-tenant situations, the nation's model is the Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act (URLTA). The National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws adopted it in 1972. Thirty-three (33) states have adopted it with variations. Where the state has adopted URLTA, we noted that in the link. Otherwise it says "landlord-tenant."  Most landlord-tenant laws assign specific responsibilities to the landlord and the tenant for housekeeping, maintenance and repair and incorporate the local housing and health codes by reference. In a few cases, because of the formatting in some state websites, we provided only a summary of those landlord and tenant responsibilities. For more details. 

  • Housing / Property Maintenance: We included laws that set minimum standards for the condition of housing or property. Where it was clearly limited to a type of housing such as rental, we noted the limited. The nation's model is the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC). Adopted in 1999 by the International Code Council as part of a package of model codes for building, fire, plumbing, electrical, and mechanical construction.  Two states - New York and Virginia - and more than 600 communities have adopted it with variations. For more details. 

  • Health / Sanitation: We included minimum health-related laws that were focused on housing. Many standard have broad nuisance, sanitation, or rodent control standards that could be applied to housing. These laws are typically managed by the health department rather than the housing department. There is no current model code but the historical model was adopted by the American Public Health Association (APHA) in 1934.  For more details.

  • Construction: We included in this section, laws that described how the construction or repairs must be done. Most states rely on the International Code Council's model codes for construction. The International Residential Code (IRC) applies to construction and rehabilitation of one- and two-family dwellings. The International Building Code (IBC) applies to construction and rehabilitation of buildings not covered by the IRC. The International Existing Building Code (IEBC) applies to rehabilitation and maintenance of existing buildings. It is the most appropriate code for existing homes.  We noted the state's adoption of the IRC, IBC and IEBC where ICC reported it. 

  • Product Standards: We included standards for the sale and use of products for the home. Typically, these are adopted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. In some cases, states adopt codes in advance or in the absence of federal action. We tended to include only those related to toxic chemicals such as lead. For more details.

  • Disclosure: We included laws that mandate disclosure of hazards at property transfer - usually sale or lease.  the federal government requires disclosure of lead hazards at sale or lease of housing.   

  • Hazard Management: We created columns for the common types of codes that manage hazards in the home. We specifically listed lead, asbestos, radon, and carbon monoxide because they are so common. We listed smoke alarm laws, mold laws, home inspection laws, or fire prevention laws in the "other" column. Because states often have a multiple laws and implementing regulations for lead, we will add a link to the state's webpage for lead laws when we are aware of it and listed the law authorizing the program and the law setting up the EPA certification program for lead-based paint activities separately.  For more details.