By Joanna Allhands | The Arizona Republic
(Editor’s note: Posting opinion pieces does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rose Law Group.)
Gilbert’s hand-wringing over building codes sounds a lot like Mesa’s protracted battle with code enforcement.
And, like Mesa’s tiff, this one could end badly.
Gilbert’s “tea party” contingent doesn’t want the town to adopt an updated set of International Building Codes. If people want to build something, they argue, and it doesn’t hurt anyone else, why does the government care? Mandating one insulation type over another just messes with the free market.
Similar arguments once tanked tougher code-enforcement laws in Mesa. People said city inspectors would become the paint police, dinging everyone for anything slightly out of place. It was government intrusion, critics said.
