Page 59 - Green Builder July-August 2020 Issue

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CODE ARENA

The Latest Rules, Regulations and Codes Impacting Sustainable Construction

CREDIT: DON LAVANGE„FLICKR

Greenery is good. Under HB4704, state and local governments would be barred from preventing homeowners from growing personal enjoyment gardens in
their homes—a hobby many have taken up as a result of the recent stay-at-home orders.
rights of residents to produce, consume, and store their own energy Committee (where it has been since early March), passed through
without discriminatory repercussions from a utility company.” both chambers and signed by the Governor for immediate eect.
The bill is also trying to prevent residents from falling victim to ˆ. The goal of HB is to create a farther setback for landŠlls. The
“discriminatory rate design, treatment, or excessive compliance current setback is ‹‹ feet; the new distance would be Ž,‹‹‹ feet.
requirements”. This bill is proposing a modiŠcation to a state regulation, and
It was referred to a Senate committee in mid-April. If it eventu- would go into eect immediately. It was last seen in mid-March
ally passes, it would go into eect immediately. with the House Energy & Environment Committee. GB
. HB would prevent the preclusion of gardens “whether it be
for produce, owers, herbs, fungi, or grains, and when done so for Reference items:
one’s own consumption and enjoyment” by the State or a unit of 1. legiscan.com/IL/text/HB4148/2019
local government, including home rule powers. One caveat of this 2. legiscan.com/IL/text/HB5105/2019
bill is that it only applies to one’s primary residence. It’s sad that 3. legiscan.com/IL/text/HB4069/2019
there is a need for such legislation, but hopefully with so many 4. legiscan.com/IL/text/SB3500/2019
people staying home and an associated increase in gardening, the 5. legiscan.com/IL/text/HB4704/2019
motivation will exist to get this out of the House Cities and Villages 6. legiscan.com/IL/text/HB4098/2019

Mike Collignon is the executive director and co-founder of the
Green Builder Coalition.
®

COURTESY OF
The Green Builder®Coalition

CREDIT: MASSDEP„FLICKR The Green Builder®Coalition is a not-for-profit association dedicated

to amplifying the voice of green builders and professionals, driving

practices. For more information, visit GreenBuilderCoalition.org
Garbage time. The size of landfills easements will double if legislation ever advocacy and education for more sustainable homebuilding
makes it out of the Illinois House Energy & Environment Committee.

www.greenbuildermedia.com July/August 2020 GREEN BUILDER 57

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