SAVE THE DATE!
2014 Fall Board Meeting
Hyatt Regency
Savannah, GA
September 9-12
More information coming soon!
Be sure to check out the new Georgia Builder website here.
HBAG's magazine has added a digital component. Hard copies will still be distributed.
The 2014 Resource Guide is now available online!
The HBAG membership directory is now available on the HBAG website. Click here to view the 2014 Resource Guide.
2013-2014
HBAG Leadership
Vice President
Ted Noe
Neal Davis
Vice President/Secretary
Lamar Smith
Immediate Past President
Jason Dickens
Associate Vice President
Amanda Roland
GEOC President
Wendy Myers
Area Associate Directors
Area I (Greater Atlanta)-
Heather Bounds
Area II (Bartow, Dalton, Fannin, Gilmer, Gordon, Paulding, Rome, Westside)-
Corey Minshew
Area III (Barrow, North GA, Jackson County, Northeast, Georgia Mountain)-
Sammy Baker
Area IV (Columbus, Midwest, West)-
Lonnie Williams
Area V (Athens, Augusta, Lake Oconee, Madison-Morgan, Newton County)-
Judy Malcom
Area VI (Middle Georgia)-
Joel Beasley
Area VII (Albany, South GA)-
Vicky Biles
Area VIII (Golden Isles, Savannah, Statesboro)-
Tara Mincey
HBAG Member Rebate Program
No one likes to leave money on the table. So, what would you think if you could get a rebate for your loyalty to many of the nation's leading product suppliers? Well, now you can! HBAG's Member Rebate Program increases your bottom line. For the minimal effort of informing us about the home construction products you use and when you close on a home or project, you'll be putting money back in your pocket. Both Builder and Remodeler companies, no matter how large or small, qualify for the program, and you are not required to use products from every manufacturer. For more information and to register click here.
Quick Links
Online Advertising
Read NAHB's Eye on Housing
Read NAHB's Eye on the Economy
Become a Sponsor of HBAG
Home Builders Association of Georgia
3015 Camp Creek Parkway Atlanta, Georgia 30344 Phone: (404) 763-2453 Fax: (404) 559-1531
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NEW NPDES PERMIT
Tertiary Permittee
The new NPDES General Permit(s) have been issued by the Environmental Protection Division (EPD) Director effective September 24, 2013. The Common Development Permit is the one primarily used by residential construction. This permit is effective for 5 years. Applications for extensions of coverage under the old permit were accepted through December of 2013. Most developments should now probably be under the new permits.
 | | Luke Owen of the NPDES Training Institute giving a presentation at the 2014 HBAG Spring Board Meeting. |
The NPDES Permits authorize storm water discharges to the waters of the State of Georgia from construction activities and are part of the Federal Clean Water Act.
A residential Common Development frequently has a Primary Permittee (owner/operator or developer) and Secondary Permittee(s) (builders of individual lots). There is also a third category, "Tertiary Permittee," meaning either the owner or operator of a remaining lot(s) within a common development (as defined in this permit) conducting a construction activity where the primary permittee and all secondary permittees have submitted a Notice of Termination or where a Primary Permittee no longer exists.
The Tertiary Permittee is unique to Georgia. It does provide a pathway to develop existing lots without having to become a Primary Permittee. However, it may seem new to many builders who in the past have just been Secondary Permittees. There are no fees associated with the Tertiary Permit. No monitoring or sampling is required if the site is 5 acres or less of disturbed land.
There are some guidelines and ways to apply the new Tertiary Permittee requirements for smaller parcels (5 acres or less) that may provide financial and paperwork reduction for these projects. Contact Bettie Sleeth, bsleeth@hbag.org or 678-468-9900 for details.
The NPDES permits, fact sheet, addendum fact sheet, and NOI's (Notices of Intent) are posted on the EPD website here. If additional information is required, please contact Jan Sammons with the NonPoint Source Program at (404) 675-6240.
HBAG has partnered with the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission and Luke Owen of the NPDES Training Institute to provide members with classes related to Erosion Control Certification, Lead RRP Training, etc. throughout the state of Georgia. Click here for a full class schedule and to sign-up.
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BUILDER LICENSING REMINDER
All Residential and General Contractor licenses in Georgia must be renewed biannually. The next renewal date is
June 30, 2014. The Licensing Board is encouraging all licensed contractors to renew before the deadline to avoid any delays that may be encountered as the deadline approaches. Licensed contractors can go here to renew online.
Builder Licensing Continuing Education Requirements:
- Residential Basic (RB) 3 hours per year in two year licensing period = 6 hours needed to renew
- Residential Light (RL) 6 hours per year = 12 hours needed to renew
The board rule states that half (1/2) of the required credits may be obtained online. Don't delay! Check with your local HBA for classes if you need CEU credits.
The Residential and General Contractor Licensing Board has established a $100 non-refundable renewal fee, which can be paid by credit card online. Once a renewal application has been submitted, a builder's status will be shown online as "renewal pending". According to the Secretary of State's office, a builder can continue to work and enter into contracts while under this status. There is a late renewal fee of $200 for renewal applications submitted between July 1, 2014 and December 31, 2014. However, during this extended renewal period, a builder's license is considered lapsed and not valid. After December 31, all licenses that have not been renewed will be treated as revoked. At that juncture, reinstatement is at the discretion of the board, which could require the submission of a new application and/or the re-taking of the licensing examination. For more information check the SOS website.
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ALL Home Program
A Liveable Lifestyle Home Program
ALL i s a voluntary certification program presenting design features built into a new home or within a remodeled home that promote a liveable and accessible lifestyle. It is a home for ALL people - young or old, and of all abilities. ALL is a State-wide program. It works for builders and consumers in all price points and home types.
Watch the video below to learn more about the details of the ALL Home Program!
For more information regarding the ALL H ome Program, please contact Bettie Sleeth at bsleeth@hbag.org or Kailey Murphy at kmurphy@hbag.org. Greater Atlanta HBA member and ALL founding partner, Betsy Sheppard, betsy@gilbertsheppard.com has created the website and marketing materials. Bettie Sleeth and Betsy Sheppard are available to make presentations on the ALL Home Program to your local association or other groups.
Be sure to like the ALL - A Liveable Lifestyle Home Program Facebook page by clicking here!
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Education Requirements
NPDES & Erosion Control
As construction activity is increasing and new NPDES Permits are in effect, the following is a reminder of the education and training requirements for what is commonly called "the blue card".
Georgia's Erosion and Sedimentation Act states that for each site on which land disturbing activity occurs, each entity or person acting as either a primary, secondary or tertiary permittee, as defined in the NPDES General Permit, shall have as a minimum one person who is in responsible charge of erosion and sedimentation control activities on behalf of the permittee and meets the applicable education or training certification requirements (Fundamentals Seminar - Level IA). This is not new, but became effective on May 14, 2007.
The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) recommends, but does not require, that at least two people from each permittee working at a project or site have completed the Fundamentals Seminar (Level IA). In the event that a "certified person" is out due to illness, on vacation, or called away on an emergency, then another "certified person" is available on-site to ensure that erosion and sedimentation control issues are under control, regardless of what situation arises. If the "certified person" leaves the site and he/she is the only individual on-site that has completed the Fundamentals Seminar (Level IA), then all land disturbing activities undertaken by that permittee should stop until the "certified person" returns. A "certified person" is an individual who has successfully completed the Fundamentals Seminar (Level IA).
NOTICE: Change to the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission's Re-Certification Requirements
On June 21, 2013, the Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission Board voted to change the GSWCC's 90-Day Grace Period Re-Certification Policy. Under the new policy, individuals will only have to sit for an initial certification course and pass the certification exam once. GSWCC will renew an individual's certification, even if the individual's initial certification has expired, once the individual has attended at least four (4) hours of continuing education.
Please be aware that this policy change only pertains to an individual's certification status. An individual conducting a land disturbing activity with an expired certification is in noncompliance with O.C.G.A. § 12-7-1 and may be subject to enforcement action.
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