Developers Could See Looser Regulations

Georgia House members are considering loosening regulations for builders as a way of stimulating the economy.


With the housing market in the gutter, and unemployment rates following the nose dive of the construction industry, state lawmakers like Rome Republican Representative Katie Dempsey say looser building regulations could aid the economy. Dempsey says the key would be to make construction guidelines uniform throughout the state.

"Just one area in particular, buffers. Different counties sometimes create different amount of buffers. Even just your fencing and landscaping can be added on and can be cost prohibitive for development," Dempsey says.


Buffers are generally no-build areas designed to protect the environment and are often costly to developers.

Meanwhile, the national public is opposed to reduced economic regulations, according to recent polling. Last month an LA Times/Bloomberg poll showed half of all respondents blamed the economic fallout on lax governmental regulations throughout the economy.