In a March 10 notice on the Federal Register, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced it is delaying the compliance dates for the adoption of energy efficiency standards for new construction of HUD- and USDA-financed housing.

On April 26, 2024, HUD and the U.S. Department of Agriculture published the final determination which adopted the 2021 edition of the International Energy Conservation Code and the 2019 edition of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1: Energy Standard for Buildings, Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings as the minimum energy standards for new construction of buildings in programs covered by section 109 of the Cranston-Gonzalez National Affordable Housing Act of 1990.

HUD is delaying the compliance dates associated with the final determination for the following programs for six months: Federal Housing Administration-Insured (FHA-Insured) Multifamily; FHA-Insured Single Family; Public Housing Capital Fund; and Competitive Grants (Choice Neighborhoods, Section 202, Section 811). The compliance date for Section 8 Project Based Vouchers is extended until April 1, 2026.

“The six-month delay will provide additional time for the administration to review questions of fact, law and policy supporting the final determination and determine the need for HUD to develop further technical assistance,” the Federal Register notice read. “Additionally, the delay for Section 8 Project Based Vouchers will allow time for HUD to seek comment and publish further guidance on compliance.”

The compliance date extension does not apply to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) or the Housing Trust Fund (HTF) Program, as those dates have already passed. However, if HOME and HTF projects receive layered funding with other HUD funds that have been delayed, the later compliance date applies.