Ohio regulations could drive up home prices

COLUMBUS, Ohio - O hio's newly adopted residential building code will require new homes to be more energy-efficient, come with carbon-monoxide detectors and be tested for air leaks.

The Columbus Dispatch reports the code was adopted by the Ohio Department of Commerce's Board of Building Standards after passing final procedural hurdles this month. It's scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1.

The new rules are estimated to add between $1,100 and $1,200 to the cost of an 1,800-square-foot two-story home.

Columbus homebuilder Craig Tuckerman tells the newspaper that while the updates will increase the cost of construction, they were reasonable and worth adopting. Tuckerman served on the code's advisory committee. He hopes homeowner see changes in their utility bills.

The code had sparked considerable debate since its introduction more than three years ago.